CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Sex Discrimination

Evan Harris: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2007,  Official Report, column 2W, on sex discrimination, if he will place in the Library the general advice issued in November 2003 by the Archbishops' Council to dioceses and parishes on the effect of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003.

Stuart Bell: I have placed a copy in the Library today, 7 June.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Age: Discrimination

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will ensure that the Discrimination Law Review explicitly considers age discrimination as part of its remit.

Phil Woolas: The Government are considering whether there is a case for introducing legislation to prohibit harmful age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services as part of the Discrimination Law Review. The proposals emerging from the review will be published for public consultation shortly.

Discrimination

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to publish for public consultation proposals emerging from the Discrimination Law Review.

Phil Woolas: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill will be published for public consultation shortly.

Explosives: Transport

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance was offered by the Government to the fire authorities in England and Wales following the explosion on 22 March 1989 involving a vehicle carrying explosives on the Fengate Industrial Estate in Cambridgeshire; and whether that guidance has since been  (a) amended,  (b) added to and  (c) withdrawn by her Department.

Angela Smith: holding answer 4 June 2007
	Following the explosion on 22 March 1989 involving a vehicle carrying explosives on the Fengate Industrial Estate in Cambridgeshire, the Home Office issued the Chief Officer Letter 4/1989 on 25 May 1989, covering Road Traffic (Carriage and Explosives) regulations 1989. The regulation required vehicles carrying explosives to be marked front and rear with an orange rectangle and on the sides with an orange diamond carrying in black the classification division and the compatibility group and some cases the explosives symbol. Following the incident at Peterborough, the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) obtained the agreement of consignors of explosives to implement the vehicle marking requirement before the regulations formally came into effect.
	Following the report of the investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, Chief Officer Letter 4/1989 was superseded on 3 May 1991 by Chief Officer Letter 4/1991, item 3, which made a distinction between fires that involve the load compartment, and those that do not and the possible evacuation of the area. The HSE advised that only where the rapid application of water would have a good chance of preventing an explosion, should an attack by firefighters be attempted.
	On 6 May 1992, Chief Officers Letter 6/1992 item 7 introduced Technical Bulletin 1/1992: Explosives Guide. This Technical Bulletin gives general guidance about the common properties of explosives, the various uses to which they are put and the regulations covering their manufacture, storage and transportation.

Fire Services: Emergency Calls

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of fire service response times from time of call to time of first attendance for each fire and rescue service were of a duration of  (a) up to five minutes,  (b) six to 10 minutes,  (c) 11 to 15 minutes and  (d) over 15 minutes in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: holding answer 6 June 2007
	The information requested is provided as follows.
	
		
			   Attendance time in minutes 
			   up to 5  6 to 10  11 to 15  over 15 
			   Attendances  Percentage  Attendances  Percentage  Attendances  Percentage  Attendances  Percentage 
			 2001 89,287 44 90,535 45 16,399 8 4,916 2 
			 2002 81,662 43 86,166 46 15,861 8 4,869 3 
			 2003 76,441 41 87,143 47 17,383 9 5,313 3 
			 2004 62,580 39 77,814 48 15,335 10 5,075 3 
			 2005 53,928 36 74,536 50 15,525 10 5,213 3 
			  Note:  Figures are based on sampled data grossed to fire and rescue service totals and exclude any fires in November 2002 and January-February 2003 strike periods. Incidents with a response time of 60 minutes or more are excluded as these are likely to be 'late calls': where the fire is known to have been already been extinguished when the FRS were informed of the fire. Data are for England and Wales primary fires only.  Source:  Fire and Rescue Sendee returns to CLG 
		
	
	Fire and Rescue Service attendance times have been increasing gradually over the last 5 years, with 86 per cent. of primary fires attended within 10 minutes in 2005 compared with 89 per cent. in 2001. Over the same period the number of people in England killed in accidental dwelling fires, the public service agreement target has fallen by 27 per cent. from 321 to 233 and the number of calls to incidents has also reduced indicating the positive impact of risk based fire prevention.

Public Lavatories: Disabled

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to ensure that the provision of disabled toilets by local authorities is compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Angela Smith: New public conveniences provided by local authorities must comply with the Building Regulations. Toilets for use by disabled people, whether wheelchair users or ambulant disabled people, should comply with Part M of the Building Regulations (Access to and use of buildings). The guidance in Approved Document M shows one way of meeting these requirements.
	Regulations made under the Disability Discrimination Act (The Disability Discrimination (Service Providers and Public Authorities Carrying Out Functions) Regulations 2005; S.I. 2005 No. 2901) provide an exemption from the requirement on service providers and public authorities to make 'reasonable adjustments' to physical features of a building provided they follow the guidance in the version of Approved Document M, which applied at the time of installation or construction. The exemption applies for a period of up to 10 years from the completion of installation or construction of the feature or, in the case of a physical feature provided as part of a larger building project, the day on which the works in relation to that project were completed.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departments: Public Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date she met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the forward budget of her Department.

Tessa Jowell: As Secretary of State responsible for public expenditure I have had and will continue to have, wide-ranging and regular discussions on the Department's forward plans, principally with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. I also have regular meetings and discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a range of issues.

English Heritage: Public Appointments

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on the appointment of a new chair of English Heritage.

Tessa Jowell: The costs incurred on the appointment of the new English Heritage chair are £38,221.39. The first campaign failed to identify a suitable candidate for appointment and was re-launched in February 2007.
	The costs incurred under the first campaign are £15,693.34. This included £15,277.34 for advertising in the national press and £416 for independent assessor costs.
	The costs incurred under the second campaign are £22,528.05. This includes £7,073.50 for advertising in the national press; £15,037.55 in fees to a recruitment agency engaged to search for suitable candidates and £417 for independent assessor costs.

Olympic Games: Greater London

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the total budget for the London Olympics in 2012 has been set aside for direct funding of cultural events as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

Tessa Jowell: The mandatory ceremonies will be directly funded from the London 2012 Organising Committee's budget for the 2012 Games. It is confident that the mandatory ceremonies will be funded within its £2 billion revenue budget. The bid projects and signature events and the UK-wide cultural festival will be delivered and funded in partnership with a range of public and private partners. For example, the Legacy Trust will invest at least £40 million in funding cultural and sporting activity in the run up to the 2012 Games.
	The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will shortly set out more detail on the bid projects and the UK-wide Cultural Festival. However, we will not be in a position to provide an overall cost figure in advance for what will be a developing programme of events over the four years of the Cultural Olympiad, with funding being drawn in from a number of sources over that period.

DEFENCE

Food Supply: Security

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last considered the defence implications for the UK of  (a) the threat of and  (b) actual contamination of food supplies; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer  17 May 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1050W.

Future Surface Combatant

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the initial concept and design work for the Future Surface Combatant.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 4 June 2007
	A project team has been established to develop the requirement for the Future Surface Combatant. The team has undertaken a considerable amount of work, including some concept design work in conjunction with industry.

Rendition

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 25 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1119W, on rendition, what arrangements exist for notification of landings by non-military state aircraft at civilian airfields.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 1 May 2007
	The MOD is only responsible for flight clearance arrangements for foreign military aircraft entering and leaving UK airspace, and for civil aircraft using MOD airfields. Arrangements for aircraft from foreign non-military agencies and Departments transiting UK airspace or landing at UK civil airfields are the responsibility of the relevant counterpart UK Government Department.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departments: Carbon Emissions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what methodology is used by her Department to account for its carbon emissions.

Hilary Armstrong: The methodology used to account for carbon emissions for offsetting purposes is the same used across Government to calculate official and ministerial air travel. For energy purposes, we use the methodology published by the Carbon Trust.

Departments: Travel Agents

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much her Department and its agencies paid in travel agencies' fees in each year since 1997.

Hilary Armstrong: The cost of fees paid for travel agency services cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Children's Centres: Maternity Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consideration is made of the requirements of maternity services in the development of Sure Start children's centres.

Beverley Hughes: All Sure Start children's centres should link with their local maternity services to improve the accessibility of ante and post-natal care and promote their integration with other services.
	Joint Department of Health/Department of Education and Skills children's centre guidance set out policy that through children's trust arrangements, local authorities and PCTs should ensure these opportunities for the benefits are maximised, particularly for disadvantaged and excluded groups. It is up to local authorities and PCTs to agree the scope of the working arrangements and the level of resources allocated to them.

Dyspraxia

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what Government support is available for people suffering from dyspraxia.

Parmjit Dhanda: Support for children with special educational needs (SEN) accounts for a high proportion of all school expenditure. We do not hold information centrally about expenditure on dyspraxia, but information collected from local authorities (LAs) shows planned expenditure on the education of school-age children with SEN of £4.5 billion in 2006-07. This is about 13 per cent. of all education spending.
	Schools and LAs provide support to children with SEN, including those with dyspraxia, by taking account of guidance set out in the SEN Code of Practice (2001). The code recommends school based interventions at two levels—"School Action and School Action Plus". If a child does not make adequate progress or cannot access the curriculum at "School Action Plus", and it is considered the child may need support over and above what the school can provide, the LA may carry out a statutory assessment of the child's SEN, with the view to the issue of a statement. A statement sets out the child's needs, the provision to meet those needs, and the school the child attends.
	Once a statement is issued the LA is under a duty to arrange the educational provision specified in the statement.
	A statement may also, in the case of a child with dyspraxia, set out the support to be provided by health services, for example occupational therapy.
	The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for funding further education provision for post-16 learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including those people with dyspraxia. We do not hold information on the specific expenditure on dyspraxia. However, overall investment in provision for these learners has increased significantly over recent years, and in 2004/05 the LSC helped support more than 640,000 learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities accounting for nearly £1.5 billion.
	Continuing investment in this provision remains a priority and the LSC has made clear in their Annual Statement of Priorities for 2007-08 that they expect the proportion of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to be maintained.
	For young people in higher education, disabled students' allowances can help meet the additional costs of undertaking the course which arise from their disability, mental health condition or specific learning disability, including dyspraxia.

Educational Institutions: Israel

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the decision of the University and College Union to consider a boycott of Israeli academic institutions; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The UK Government fully support academic freedom and are firmly against any academic boycotts of Israel or Israeli academics. While I appreciate the independence of the UCU, I am very disappointed that the union has decided to pass a motion which encourages its members to consider boycotting Israeli academics and education institutions. I profoundly believe this does nothing to promote the Middle East peace process, in fact the reverse.

Foundation Degrees

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of foundation degrees he estimates will be validated by  (a) further education colleges and  (b) universities in each region in each year from 2009 to 2020, broken down by age group of students and taking into account the anticipated changes in demography in each region if the proposals currently before the House relating to franchise rights are enacted.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 6 June 2007
	 Estimates of the data requested have not been made by the Department.
	A report published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in January 2007 (Foundation Degrees: Key Statistics 2001-02 to 2006-07) shows that in the academic year 2004-05, a total of 83 higher education institutions (HEIs) and 255 further education colleges were involved with foundation degree provision. The following table shows the number of students registered and taught at each type of institution, and whether these students were studying on a full-time or part-time basis:
	
		
			  Home foundation degree entrants in 2004-05 at HEIs and FEIs in England 
			  Institution  Full-time  Part-time  Total  
			  R eg.  T aught  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Percentage full-time 
			 HEI HEI 4,950 39 4,365 56 9,315 45 53 
			 HEI HEI and FEI 145 1 40 1 185 1 78 
			 HEI FEI 4,365 34 1,665 21 6,030 29 72 
			 FEI FEI 3,295 26 1,750 22 5,040 25 66 
			 Total 12,750 100 7,815 100 20,570 100 62 
		
	
	It should not, however, be inferred from this data that any particular proportion of foundation degree students will in future be undertaking programmes at a college with powers to award its own foundation degrees.

Further Education: Foundation Degrees

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with  (a) universities,  (b) businesses and  (c) further education colleges prior to taking the decision to bring forward legislation to permit further education colleges to apply for the right to award foundation degrees.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 4 June 2007
	The proposals in Clause 17 of the Further Education and Training Bill, to allow Further Education institutions in England to apply for the power to award Foundation Degrees, emerged after informal discussions with a number of interested parties in the further and higher education sectors. These followed up Sir Andrew Foster's recommendation that
	"consideration should be given to allowing some colleges, that meet quality criteria, the ability to award their own qualifications, rather than working through awarding bodies".
	Officials discussed with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) how these proposals might be taken forward prior to the publication of the Further Education and Training Bill. The views of the Association of Colleges and other representative bodies from the Further Education sector were also sought.
	Since publication of the Bill, the Department has undertaken extensive and extremely constructive discussions with a wide range of representatives from the Higher and Further Education sectors, as well as other interested stakeholder bodies. Over thirty written submissions were received in response to a circular letter inviting comment on the proposals; these included responses from a number of Sector Skills Councils and the Council for Industry and Higher Education. Ministers and officials have also maintained frequent contact with sector bodies such as Universities UK and the Association of Colleges, and have also corresponded with representatives from individual institutions in both sectors.

Further Education: Qualifications

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the completion rates were for students undertaking  (a) higher national diplomas and  (b) foundation degrees in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: Information on the completion rates of students on foundation degrees and higher national diplomas for the last 10 years is not held centrally.
	The available information on the qualification rates of students on foundation degrees was published in January 2007 in 'Foundation degrees: key statistics 2001-02 to 2006-07' by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The information, covering students registered at higher education institutions, looked at the qualification rates of students on courses with expected course lengths of two and three years who qualified within these time frames.
	The key findings were that, overall, around 77 to 86 per cent. of students had either qualified within the expected course length or were still studying either on a foundation degree course or on another higher education programme. The exact proportion varied depending on the length and mode of study of the course.
	The report also contained comparable figures for students on HNDs. These showed a slightly wider variation in the proportion of students who had either qualified within the expected course length or were still studying either on a HND course or on another higher education programme of between 74 to 86 per cent. Again, the exact proportion depended on the length and mode of study.
	The complete report is available from the HEFCE website only at:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2007/

Learning and Skills Councils: Reorganisation

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the costs of any redundancies which will arise from the proposed restructuring of learning and skills councils including the costs of payments to individuals and the costs of payments into the pension scheme.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 4 June 2007
	The LSC has been undertaking a major restructuring exercise under theme 7 of its 'Agenda for Change' reform programme. This exercise is expected to be completed later this summer, and will result in some 1,100 fewer staff posts across the whole of the organisation.
	The LSC set aside provision of £55.7 million in its 2005-06 accounts to cover the one-off costs associated with these staff changes. Of this, £30.4 million is for redundancy and severance costs, £2.1 million for pension costs and £2.29 million for outplacement costs. The remainder is for property and HR related activities. Final outturn figures for 2006-07 are not yet available but will be published in the LSC's annual report and accounts in July.
	We expect the LSC to achieve year-on-year savings of £40 million as a result of these changes. This is in addition to the £50 million savings it is already making year-on-year compared to predecessor bodies.

Medicine: Qualifications

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the  (a) average number of A*s at GCSE and  (b) average UKCAT score attained by successful (i) pre A-level and (ii) post A-level applicants to medical schools was in the academic year 2006-07.

Bill Rammell: Information on the average number of A*s at GCSE and average UKCAT scores is not held centrally. In 2006, there were 18,949 applicants to pre-clinical medicine courses, of whom 8,011 were accepted.

Vocational Training

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vocational course places were available for 16 to 19 year olds in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 8 May 2007
	The following table shows numbers in full-time education, WBL and other forms of education and training by highest qualification aim over the last five years. It is not possible to split student numbers clearly between vocational and other routes, particularly as substantial numbers of young people will follow a mixed programme involving both vocational and general subjects.
	
		
			  End of calendar year  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			  Males and females  
			  Full-time education 1,027,400 1,059,700 1,086,100 1,127,600 1,176,800 
			   
			  Higher Education (Level 4 and above) 128,800 131,800 133,700 134,700 142,300 
			   
			  Further Education 898,700 928,000 952,400 992,900 1,034,500 
			 NVQ3 6,600 6,400 6,400 8,100 8,300 
			 VCE A/AS level or Advanced GNVQ 119,300 112,600 116,200 104,100 63,200 
			 GCE A/AS level 472,100 486,000 481,900 494, 700 533,200 
			 NVQ 3 equivalents 91,900 102,800 117,500 136,700 167,900 
			 NVQ 2 29,100 28,600 29,800 31,300 33,700 
			 Intermediate GNVQ 53,200 49,000 40,300 33,200 23,100 
			 GCSE 20,200 19,000 18,500 21,300 24,200 
			 NVQ 2 equivalents 42,300 47,700 56,900 69,400 79,800 
			 NVQ 1 9,100 9,800 10,100 12,500 14,900 
			 Foundation GNVQ 10,800 11,500 10,200 8,200 5,100 
			 NVQ 1 equivalents 15,700 20,900 26,400 31,800 40,500 
			 Other courses(2) 28,500 33,800 38,200 41,600 40,600 
			   
			  Work Based Learning (WBL) 156,600 151,400 156,700 156,100 149,700 
			  Of which:  
			 WBL in full-time education 3,200 3,300 3,400 3,400 3,500 
			 WBL in part-time education 5,300 5,200 5,000 4,800 4,800 
			   
			  Employer Funded Training (EFT) 94,900 99,800 105,600 101,900 95,600 
			  Of which:  
			 Part-time education 13,500 14,800 14,300 12,900 13,300 
			   
			  Other Education and Training (OET)( 3) 107,000 103,100 102,500 98,300 96,300 
			  Of which:  
			 Part-time education 95,900 89,500 87,400 85,300 82,500 
			   
			  Total Education and WBL( 4) 1,290,200 1,312,100 1,341,000 1,378,400 1,418,800 
			   
			  Total Education and training( 5) 1,382,700 1,410,700 1,447,500 1,480,500 1,515,000 
			 Not in any education or training(6) 465,800 482,200 488,900 488,600 474,000 
			   
			  All 1,848,500 1,892,900 1,936,400 1,969,000 1,989,000 
			   
			  Population ( T housand) 1,848,500 1,892,900 1,936,400 1,969,000 1,989,000 
			 (1 )Provisional. (2. )Includes all courses below level 1 and those of unknown or unspecified level (also includes PRUs; and special schools, for which no qualification breakdown is available). (3 )Includes part-time education not funded by employers or through WBL; also full or part-time education in independent FE and HE institutions. (4) Total of all full-time and part-time education and WBL (less WBL in full-time education), equivalent to local level estimates for education and training. (5 )Total of all full-time education and WBL (less WBL in full-time education) plus EFT and OET. (6 )The remainder of the age group.

Written Questions

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects to provide a substantive answer to question 138625, on grammar schools, tabled by the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras on 17 May.

Jim Knight: A response was issued to my right hon. Friend on 4 June 2007,  Official Report, column 121W.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Political Parties: Finance

Mark Francois: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will make a statement on the progress of the Electoral Commission's investigation into the legality of donations made by Mr. Michael Browne to the Liberal Democrats.

Peter Viggers: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer on this matter to my hon. Friend the Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 16 May,  Official Report, column 748W.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Cattle: Exports

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will prohibit the export of live young calves.

Ben Bradshaw: No, the UK cannot place a unilateral ban on exports because to do so would be illegal under EU law.

Environment Protection: Publications

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to publish the consultation paper on the social and environmental guidance due in March 2008.

Ian Pearson: I assume the hon. Member is referring to the social and environmental guidance to Ofwat. This will be influenced by the Government's new water strategy which is being developed for publication during the summer. We expect to carry out a public consultation on the draft social and environmental guidance in the autumn.

Eunomia Consultancy

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies has paid to the Eunomia consultancy; and for what purpose.

Barry Gardiner: pursuant to the reply, 8 January 2007, Official Report, c. 273W
	My answer for the financial years, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 were incorrect. The correct figures are in the table.
	The rest of the answer remains correct and is detailed in full as follows. From information held centrally, the sums paid to the company Eunomia are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Value (£) 
			 2002-03 23,860.42 
			 2003-04 107,094.23 
			 2004-05 428,972.25 
			 2005-06 711,929.20 
			 1 April 2006 to 30 June 2006 9,380.49 
		
	
	The expenditure with Eunomia covers work commissioned by DEFRA on environment regulation policy and the waste implementation programme. Data on any expenditure with Eunomia by DEFRA's agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fly-tipping: Cambridgeshire

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many incidents of fly-tipping were reported in Cambridgeshire in each year since 2004; and what the estimated cost was of dealing with such incidents;
	(2)  how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) successful prosecutions there were in Cambridgeshire for fly-tipping in each year since 2004; and how much has been recovered in related fines.

Ben Bradshaw: Flycapture, the national fly-tipping database was set up in 2004 by DEFRA, the Environment Agency and the Local Government Association, to record the number of fly-tipping incidents dealt with by the Environment Agency and local authorities.
	The table shows the number of incidents and prosecutions recorded by local authorities in Cambridgeshire on Flycapture:
	
		
			   Total number of incidents in Cambridgeshire  Estimated clearance costs  (£)  Number of prosecutions taken to court  Number of successful prosecutions 
			 2004-05 8,037 488,523 0 0 
			 2005-06 11,978 665,420 2 2 
		
	
	Data for 2006-07 are not yet available, but will be published in the summer.
	Flycapture does not record details of any costs awarded to local authorities by courts following successful prosecutions.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Disclosure of Information

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what requirements exist on reporting of greenhouse gas emissions for which companies  (a) subject to and  (b) not subject to the European Emissions Trading Scheme are (i) directly and (ii) indirectly responsible; and how such reports are verified.

Ian Pearson: Installations participating in the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme are required to have their annual emissions verified by an independent accredited verifier. Installations that fail to do this will have their annual emissions determined by their regulator. Installations must also submit an annual report to the regulator on how they will improve their monitoring and reporting of emissions.
	The data on emissions and associated energy use are made available to the Department for Trade and Industry in compiling the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES). The data are also made available to the UK National Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
	To meet requirements of the EU Accounts Modernisation Directive (AMD) (2003), the Companies Act (2006) contains a requirement for large companies to produce a business review, contained within the annual report and accounts. This includes information on environmental matters where it is considered to be important to company performance.
	Further to the EU AMD, the Government have introduced additional requirements. From 1 October 2007, quoted companies will need to ensure their business review includes information on environmental matters to the extent necessary for an understanding of the development, performance and position of the company's business. Where appropriate, the review will be required to include key performance indicators (KPIs). Directors have responsibility to decide what environmental matters and KPIs are included and this may contain information on climate related issues and greenhouse gas emissions data.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what expenditure plans he has for the £7.5 million funding designed to improve the relationship between Warm Front and the Energy Efficiency Commitment, as described in paragraph 7.42 of the 2006 pre-Budget report; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how local authorities planning area-based energy efficiency programmes will be able to access the £7.5 million proposed expenditure noted in paragraph 7.42 of the 2006 pre-Budget report; whom he expects to benefit from the expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Following the announcement in the pre-Budget report, details have been developed for a competitive bidding process to determine the allocation of the £6.3 million of this funding that is available in England.
	Organisations will be able to bid, against a set of criteria, for resources to support them in the development and delivery of local area-based initiatives designed to promote the installation of energy efficiency measures in households and tackle fuel poverty. Organisations will be encouraged to work in partnership with others and are required to secure agreement from the relevant local authority(ies), as their involvement is important in ensuring the success of local initiatives. Bidders will have to demonstrate their ability to provide a cost effective and sustainable service that works effectively and efficiently with the Energy Efficiency Commitment and Warm Front. I expect the open tender to be launched soon, with the successful bidders being selected on a competitive basis thereafter.
	Further information is available on the fuel poverty pages on the DEFRA website.

Radioactive Wastes: Waste Management

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to reply to the Fourth Report of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, Fourth Report on Radioactive Waste Management: an Update.

Ian Pearson: The Department expects to provide the Government's response to the Committee's Report within the recommended two month deadline.

Water: Publications

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to publish the Water Strategy; and what account it will take of affordability.

Ian Pearson: Our aim is to publish the Government's new Water Strategy later this summer. The Strategy will set out a coherent policy framework to underpin our commitments for water availability and quality.
	Its aim is to improve standards of service and quality while balancing environmental impacts, water quality, supply and demand, and social and economic effects. It will take into account affordability concerns, particularly for those on low incomes and vulnerable groups.

Weed Control

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the use of Diquat to control weed growth in watercourses; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Along with all other pesticides approved for use in the UK, Diquat has been subject to the review programme initiated under the Plant Protection Products Directive 91/414/EEC. This ensures that risk assessments are updated in the light of the most recent scientific information. Diquat was approved under the directive, but aquatic use was not allowed because of the risks to fish, invertebrates and non-target plants. This restriction took effect in June 2004. As an interim measure, an emergency authorisation for the aquatic use of Diquat in the UK was granted in 2005 and in 2006 to enable the control of weeds. Emergency authorisations can be granted where there is an unforeseeable danger that cannot be controlled by other means.
	In 2006, Ministers concluded that no further emergency authorisations would be granted until the Advisory Committee on Pesticides was satisfied by evidence that risk mitigation measures would render the aquatic use of Diquat acceptable.
	Earlier this year, the Committee considered an application for a further emergency authorisation. It concluded that it was not appropriate to recommend a further emergency approval this year. The Committee noted that no new data were available proving acceptable risk. Furthermore, there was no evidence that alternative methods of control had been tried.
	If the Government receive new evidence which demonstrates that this herbicide can be used without unacceptable risks to the aquatic environment, we will ask the Advisory Committee to review it and will consider any resulting advice.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Armed Conflict: Journalists

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) correspondence and  (b) discussions her officials have had with (i) European partners and (ii) others (A) regarding respect for the professional independence and rights of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel during armed conflict and (B) to obtain universal compliance with relevant obligations under international law to end impunity and prosecute those responsible for serious violations of international law against such persons; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government are committed to promoting freedom of expression worldwide and to defending and protecting the professional independence and right of journalists and media professionals to work without fear of reprisal during armed conflict. Journalists, media professionals and associated personnel must be provided with the protection that they need under domestic and international law.
	Last month, at the World Press Freedom Day, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, reaffirmed our commitment to promote, defend, and protect the professional independence and right of journalists and media professionals to work without fear of reprisal. He also spoke out against impunity for crimes deliberately targeted against journalists. To intentionally direct an attack against civilians not taking direct part in hostilities is a war crime as defined under Article 8 (2)(b)(i) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Under Article 79 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, journalists are regarded as civilians, provided they do not take action adversely affecting their status. These provisions provide journalists, media professionals and associated personnel with protection under international law. The key challenge for the international community is to ensure that international law is respected and enforced in order to provide a strong deterrent.
	To assist this process, and raise awareness of the violence directed against journalists in conflict zones, the UK and its EU partners tabled UN Security Council Resolution 1738 in December 2006. The resolution condemned violence directed against journalists in conflict zones. It called on parties involved in conflict to stop deliberate attacks against journalists and respect them as civilians under international law.
	In addition to our discussions over the tabling of Resolution 1738, we also discussed this matter with outside experts at the meeting of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advisory Panel on Freedom of Expression on 24 May. We will continue to work with our EU partners and others to support efforts to promote and strengthen respect for international law, in particular in this area. An essential part of this is our strong support for the international criminal tribunals, including the ICC, which are a key part of international efforts to combat the crimes of most concern to the international community. We also discuss with EU partners and others joint action to protest at mistreatment of journalists.

Armed Conflict: Journalists

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) correspondence and  (b) discussions her Department has had since the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 1738, on the protection of journalists in armed conflict, with States Parties to the Geneva Conventions, in order to ensure that (i) all necessary action is taken to search for persons who have committed, or ordered others to commit, breaches of those conventions and (ii) such people are tried before their own courts so that they are handed to another concerned state; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government are committed to promoting freedom of expression and the media worldwide. Journalists, media professionals and associated personnel must be provided with the protection that they need under domestic and international law.
	In addition to tabling, with our EU partners, UN Security Council Resolution 1738 in December 2006, the UK will continue to work with partners to support efforts to promote and strengthen respect for international law, in particular in this area. An essential part of this is our strong support for the international criminal tribunals, including the International Criminal Court, which are a key part of international efforts to combat the crimes of most concern to the international community. We expect that the Red Cross Conference in Geneva in November will amongst other things discuss reaffirmation of international humanitarian law.
	The UK regularly speaks out when journalists are murdered, attacked or harassed. We raise cases with foreign governments, urging compliance with international law. For example, we engaged with the Russian Federation following the death of Anna Politkovskaya.

Armed Conflict: Journalists

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been introduced to ensure the UK's compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1738, on the protection of journalists in armed conflict; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government are committed to promoting freedom of expression and the media worldwide. Journalists, media professionals and associated personnel must be provided with the protection that they need under domestic and international law.
	To assist this process, and raise awareness of the violence directed against journalists in conflict zones, the UK and its EU partners tabled UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1738 in December 2006. The resolution condemned violence directed against journalists in conflict zones. It called on parties involved in conflict to stop deliberate attacks against journalists, and respect them as civilians under international law.
	No specific new measures were required of the UK to implement UNSCR 1738. UK military forces are already required to act in compliance with the provisions of international humanitarian law relating to the protection of civilians, including journalists, to which the resolution refers.
	Funding is available to support measures to protect journalists in armed conflict through a new human rights strand of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund. For example, we have funded work in Colombia, with the International News Safety Institute, aimed at creating a culture of safety in journalism and reducing the risks journalists face at work.
	The UK regularly speaks out when journalists are murdered, attacked or harassed. We raise cases with foreign governments, urging compliance with international law. For example, we engaged with the Russian Federation following the death of Anna Politkovskaya.
	The Government will continue to tackle the targeting of journalists. They are an essential component of healthy, democratic societies. They need and deserve protection for their role.

Armed Conflict: Journalists

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) correspondence and  (b) discussions her Department has had with (i) European partners and (ii) others to seek the earliest possible compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1738, on the protection of journalists in armed conflict; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We have had no specific discussions with European partners and others on compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1738. Compliance is the responsibility of UN States. We do continue to discuss wider matters of international humanitarian law, under which journalists are covered, and to take joint action on individual cases.

Bangladesh

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the arrests of 10 British citizens in Syhlet, Bangladesh, on 14 May; what representations she has made on this issue; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We understand that the 10 British citizens were part of a gathering of over 40 people who were arrested in Syhlet for allegedly breaching the current restrictions in Bangladesh on the holding of political meetings.
	We take our consular responsibilities to British nationals very seriously. On becoming aware of the arrests, our High Commission in Dhaka raised the case with the caretaker government and sought consular access. Following an order of the High Court in Dhaka on 22 May nine of the detained British citizens have been released on bail and one has since returned to the UK. The High Commission continues to provide consular assistance to the remaining detainee.
	We continue to emphasise to the caretaker government, and to the armed forces, the need to respect human rights and the rule of law.

EC Internal Relations

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which projects were funded by her Department's budget for EU Communications in each year since 1997; and how much the total budget was in each year.

Geoff Hoon: The spend in each financial year from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) EU Directorate budget codes related to EU communications in the UK are:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1997-98 (1)13,500 
			 1998-99 (2)— 
			 1999-2000 102,574 
			 2000-01 258,000 
			 2001-02 246,819 
			 2002-03 167,891 
			 2003-04 604,730 
			 2004-05 400,499 
			 2005-06(3) 274,274 
			 2006-07 (4)— 
			 2007-08 (5)265,000 
			 (1 )Excluding EU presidency EU communications. (2 )Figures not available. (3 )Plus £434,233 EU presidency public diplomacy. (4 )Final figures not yet available (5 )Allocated budget: 
		
	
	Funding may have been provided from other FCO budgets, for example on activities relating to the EU's roles on a range of FCO strategic priorities, for the 1998 UK presidency and for activities by UK embassies in Europe. Given the wide range of possible budgets and relevant projects comprehensive details could only be collated at disproportionate cost.
	In line with the FCO's public service agreement, FCO spending on EU communications covers a wide range of projects to raise awareness and debate on EU issues, such as:
	the europe.gov.uk
	website, publications and public events on EU issues.

Ilois: Resettlement

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she intends to petition the House of Lords for leave to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal on 23 May regarding the Chagos Islands; what estimate she has made of the likely cost of such an appeal; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: I will consider the 23 May judgment of the Court of Appeal carefully and have in this regard asked officials for farther advice. I reserve the right to petition the House of Lords to grant permission to appeal, as I am entitled to do within one month.
	The costs of a further appeal are estimated at £140,000.
	The Government's policy in relation to the British Indian Ocean Territory therefore remains the subject of possible ongoing legal proceedings and it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1481W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, whether the two requests for assistance on behalf of three Iraqi nationals were agreed to.

Kim Howells: In line with our policy worldwide we do not comment on the substance of individual immigration or consular cases.
	As I said in my response to my hon. Friend on 24 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1481W, all requests for assistance are dealt with on a case by case basis, taking account of individual circumstances. If after assessment we decide that an individual's circumstances do not merit our assistance, we encourage them to contact local UN High Commissioner for Refugees offices, available national refugee bodies or other relevant agencies.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will  (a) make representations on behalf of the Christian community based in North West Frontier Province in Pakistan to seek greater protection for them and  (b) make representations to the government of Pakistan to desist from imposing apostasy laws.

Kim Howells: As my hon. Friend is aware, we regularly raise our concerns over the situation of religious minorities with the Government of Pakistan, bilaterally and together with our EU partners.
	We are aware of the difficulties faced by the Christian community in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province and will continue to follow developments. We will also continue to monitor the progress of the draft Apostasy Bill. Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right and we will continue to voice our concerns to the Government of Pakistan.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of the number of blasphemy cases being heard in the Pakistani courts; and what representations she has made to the Pakistan government in the case of Younis Masih.

Kim Howells: We follow closely the subject of blasphemy trials in Pakistan. We receive reports on blasphemy trials from human rights groups and monitor cases reported in the media.
	We do not usually raise individual cases and have not recently made any representations to the Pakistani authorities on the case of Younis Masih. However, we regularly raise our concerns about blasphemy legislation and its effects on minority groups with the Government of Pakistan, both bilaterally and with our EU partners, and will continue to do so. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, most recently raised this issue in correspondence with the Government of Pakistan in February.

HEALTH

Blood: Contamination

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if her Department will release the audit certificates for files containing documents mistakenly destroyed by the Department in the 1990s and which were the subject of an Internal Audit Report in April 2000 before the end of the inquiry chaired by Lord Archer into contaminated blood and blood products; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what records her Department holds on the work of the Advisory Committee on the Virological Safety of Blood relating to the years 1989 to 1993; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department holds seven files on the work of the Advisory Committee on the Virological Safety of Blood for the period 1989-93.
	I regret that some volumes were destroyed in the 1990s, and this was the subject of an internal review and report in 2000 which is now in the public domain. The internal audit report clearly sets out the sequence of events which led to the destruction of files.

Blood: Contamination

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will release the documents returned to the Department by solicitors in a previous litigation against the Department as referred to in the Review of Documentation relating to the Safety of Blood Products 1970 to 1985 to the independent public inquiry chaired by Lord Archer into contaminated blood and blood products; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The papers returned to the Department by solicitors have already been released in line with the Freedom of Information Act, and are in the public domain.
	The Department has given an undertaking to release all the papers held on the issue of blood safety between 1970-85. The papers returned from solicitors and the references to the report "Self Sufficiency in Blood Products in England and Wales" will consequently be sent to the independent inquiry.

Blood: Contamination

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans her Department has to submit  (a) written evidence and  (b) oral evidence from (i) Ministers, (ii) civil servants and (iii) NHS staff to the independent public inquiry chaired by Lord Archer into contaminated blood and blood products; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether her Department has been asked to provide  (a) Ministers,  (b) civil servants and  (c) NHS staff as witnesses for oral evidence in the independent public inquiry chaired by Lord Archer into contaminated blood and blood products; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Lord Archer of Sandwell wrote to the Secretary of State for Health in February to invite the Department to give evidence at the independent inquiry.
	Officials met with members of the inquiry team on 25 April 2007 to discuss what information the Department may be able to provide to the inquiry. We have made available a recently completed document on the "Review of Documentation Relating to the Safety of Blood Products 1970-1985 (Non A Non B Hepatitis)", and the supporting references. Copies of the document are available in the Library.
	Officials continue to liaise with the secretary to the inquiry team.

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the value was of annual private finance initiative payments made by her Department from  (a) capital and  (b) revenue budgets in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what value of annual private finance initiative (PFI) payments was  (a) to repay capital and  (b) expenditure on other parts of each PFI contract in each of the last five years, broken down by project.

Andy Burnham: The value of annual private finance initiative payments made for each of the last five years is provided in the following table.
	The annual payments made by national health service trusts to their private sector partners are taken from their revenue budgets and cover financing charges (capital repayment and interest charges), building maintenance and, in many cases, the non-clinical support services such as cleaning, laundry, catering, portering and security. The building and support services can account for between 40 per cent. and 50 per cent. of the annual payments.
	We are not able to provide precise figures breaking down the annual payments into financing charges and other expenditure as this would require examining the financial model for each scheme which would incur disproportionate costs.
	
		
			  Payments made under PFI contracts 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  £ million 
			Unitary charge payment 
			  NHS Trust/PCT  Total capital value  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Dartford and Gravesham Hospital NHS Trust 94 20.5 19.1 19.5 20.0 20.5 
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 67 13.0 13.4 13.7 14.8 15.1 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 45 10.5 10.8 11.1 11.4 11.6 
			 Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS Trust 158 38.7 39.7 40.7 41.7 42.7 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 61 12.3 12.6 12.9 13.2 13.5 
			 South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust 67 19.0 19.5 20.0 21.7 22.2 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 96 19.1 19.6 20.1 20.6 21.1 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust 65 17.1 17.5 17.9 18.4 18.8 
			 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 118 5.8 18.7 19.2 19.6 20.1 
			 Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup NHS Trust 15 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.0 2.1 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 54 20.2 19.9 19.8 15.1 15.5 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 87 18.3 18.7 22.3 22.8 23.4 
			 Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust 64 10.8 11.1 11.4 11.7 11.9 
			 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 17 2.7 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.0 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 48 6.5 8.6 8.8 9.0 9.3 
			 Sussex Partnership NHS Trust 22 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.0 
			 South Tees Acute Hospital NHS Trust 122 — 26.2 26.8 27.5 28.2 
			 Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust 100 4.5 18.1 18.6 19.0 19.5 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Trust 76 12.3 17.5 18.4 18.4 18.3 
			 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust 28 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.9 
			 Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust 47 8.3 8.5 8.7 8.9 9.1 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 46 — 7.3 7.6 7.8 7.8 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust 11 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.5 1.5 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Trust 422 — — — 40.0 41.0 
			 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 11 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 
			 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust 18 5.8 5.2 6.1 6.2 6.4 
			 East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust 15 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 
			 Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust 10 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.7 
			 Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust 18 0.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.9 
			 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 15 0.8 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 22 0.5 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 60 — 9.7 10.5 10.8 11.0 
			 Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust 55 — 2.2 3.8 3.9 4.0 
			 Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust 137 — — — 18.2 18.2 
			 Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 30 — 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 15 — 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.0 
			 Surrey PCT 29 — 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.2 
			 The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust 13 — 0.1 3.1 3.2 3.3 
			 Nuffield Orthopaedic NHS Trust 37 — — — — 4.4 
			 Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 32 — — 3.3 3.3 3.4 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 10 — — 0.9 2.1 2.2 
			 Devon PCT 10 — — 1.4 1 5 1.5 
			 West Berkshire PCT 19 — — 3.2 3.2 3.3 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 14 — — 0.6 1.7 1.8 
			 The Whittington NHS Trust 32 — — — — 0.2 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 379 — — — — 53.9 
			 Brent PCT 21 — — — 2.8 2.9 
			 Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust 26 — — 0.0 3.2 3.2 
			 County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust 16 — — 0.5 0.8 0.8 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 110 — — — — 8.5 
			 Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust 12 — — — 1.6 1.8 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 30 — — — 2.6 3.1 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 69 — — — 3.5 7.1 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust 238 — — — — 13.2 
			 Newham Healthcare NHS Trust 52 — — — — 112 
			 Avon and Western Wiltshire MH NHS Trust 33 — — — — 6.3 
			 Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust 24 — — — 0.4 2.5 
			 Kirklees PCT 25 — — — 1.1 2.1 
			 Wandsworth PCT 75 — — — 2.5 10.2 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust 31 — — — 0.4 5.0 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 47 — — — — 8.6 
			 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 51 — — — — 2.9 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 76 — — — — 0.1 
			 Hampshire PCT 36 — — — — 1.9 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 28 — — — — 7.2 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 30 — — — — 1.1 
			 Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 19 — — — — 0.4 
		
	
	The annual payments made by NHS Trusts are from their revenue budgets to their private sector partners cover financing charges, building maintenance and, in many cases, the non-clinical support services such as cleaning, laundry, catering, portering and security, which can account for between 40 per cent. and 50 per cent. of the annual payments

General Practitioners

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date her Department received Treasury approval for the new contract for the delivery of general medical services agreed in June 2003.

Andy Burnham: The new contract for the delivery of general medical services formed part of the discussions between the Department and HM Treasury on the SR02 Spending Review, which concluded in July 2002.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the  (a) National Adviser for Surgery,  (b) National Director for Primary Care,  (c) National Director for Emergency Access,  (d) National Director for Heart Disease and Stroke,  (e) National Clinical Director for Children, Young People and Maternity Services and  (f) National Director for Older People were asked to produce their clinical case for change reports; by whom they were asked in each case; for what reasons; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The Secretary of State asked these national clinical directors and national advisers to produce personal reports which explain the clinical case for change in their areas. These seven reports were commissioned at the following times:
	 (a) 8 February 2007;
	 (b) 6 December 2006;
	 (c-f) 7 November 2006.

Hospitals

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2007,  Official Report, column 590W, on hospitals, where each of the new hospitals opened since 1979 are located.

Andy Burnham: A copy of the full list of hospital building projects that have become operational since January 1980 with values over £25 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Hospital building programme 1979 to present—schemes becoming operational by year 
			   Hospital scheme  PFI/Public Capital 
			 1983 Milton Keynes DGH—Phase 1 Public Capital 
			  Glenfield DGH—Phase 1 (Leicester) Public Capital 
			
			 1984 North Tyneside—Scheme 1 Phase 1 (North Shields) Public Capital 
			  Colchester DGH—Phase 2 Public Capital 
			  Central Public Health Laboratory Colindale Public Capital 
			  Lincoln County—Phase 1 Public Capital 
			
			 1985 St. Georges—Blocks G2 and F Phase 2 (Tooting) Public Capital 
			  Homerton Hospital—Phase 1 (Hackney) Public Capital 
			  Blood Products Manufacturing Unit Elstree Public Capital 
			  Royal Hants County—PH4 Main Development (Winchester) Public Capital 
			
			 1986 Weston-Super-Mare New Hospital Royal S. Hants—Phase 3 (Southampton) Public Capital 
			  Derby City Hospital—Phase 1 Public Capital 
			  Redditch DGH—PH1 Contract 2 Nucleus Public Capital 
			  Clare Hall Laboratory Project (Hertfordshire) Public Capital 
			  Royal S. Hants-Phase 3 (Southampton) Public Capital 
			  West Dorset DGH—Phase 1 (Dorchester) Public Capital 
			
			 1987 St. Mary's—W.2. Phase 1B (Paddington) Public Capital 
			  Tameside General—Phase 2 Public Capital 
			  Bournemouth DGH—Phase 1a Nucleus Public Capital 
			  Peterborough—2nd DGH Phase 1 Public Capital 
			  North Sefton DGH Phase 1, Nucleus (Southport) Public Capital 
			  St. Georges—Block H Phase 2a (Tooting) Public Capital 
			
			 1988 Bridlington New Community Hospital Public Capital 
			  Oldham DGH—Phase 1 Public Capital 
			  Hammersmith Hospital Redevelopment—Phase 1 Public Capital 
			  Telford DGH—Phase 1, Nucleus Public Capital 
			  Staincliffe DGH—Phase 1, Nucleus (Dewsbury) Public Capital 
			  Walsall—Phase 4a and 4b, Nucleus Public Capital 
			  City General—Surgical Accomm, Nucleus (Stoke) Public Capital 
			  St Mary's Isle Of Wight—Phase 3b, Nucleus Public Capital 
			  Eastbourne New DGH—Phase 2 Public Capital 
			
			 1989 Medway DGH—Phase 3b (Gillingham) Public Capital 
			  Mid Sussex—Phase 1 (Haywards Heath) Public Capital 
			  National Heart And Chest Centre Brompton—Phase I Public Capital 
			  Royal Surrey County—Phase 2 (Guildford) Public Capital 
			
			 1990 Manchester Royal Infirmary—Phase 2 Public Capital 
			  South Shields General—Scheme 3 Phase 1 Public Capital 
			  Glenfield DGH—Phase 2 (Leicester) Public Capital 
			  Leicester Royal Infirmary—Phase 4b Public Capital 
			  Westmoreland DGH—Scheme 1 Phase 1 (Kendal) Public Capital 
			  Whipps Cross—Phase 1 Public Capital 
			
			 1991 Cannock Community Hospital Public Capital 
			  East Surrey DGH—Phase 2 (Redhill) Public Capital 
			  Royal Victoria Infirmary—Scheme 1 Phase 5 (Newcastle) Public Capital 
			  Salisbury District Hospital—Phase 1 (Nucleus) Public Capital 
			  Milton Keynes DGH—Phase 2 Public Capital 
			  Royal Devon and Exeter—Priority 1 (Exeter) Public Capital 
			  Bournemouth DGH—Phase 2b, Nucleus Public Capital 
			  Kings Mill Phase 3—Acute/Geriatric/A&E (Sutton-in-Ashfield) Public Capital 
			  Hastings DGH—Main Phase I Public Capital 
			
			 1992 Northern General—Phase 2 North Block (Sheffield) Public Capital 
			  Wansbeck General Hospital—Scheme 1 Phase 1, (Nucleus Public Capital 
			  Westminster and Chelsea Hospital Public Capital 
			  Lincoln County—Phase 2 Public Capital 
			  Goodmayes—DGH (Ilford) Public Capital 
			  Ormskirk District General Hospital—Phase 1a Public Capital 
			  Nottingham City Renal/Radiotherapy Public Capital 
			  Derriford DGH—Phase 2 (Plymouth) Public Capital 
			
			 1993 North Manchester General—Phase 1 Public Capital 
			  Burton DGH—Phase 2.4 Main Hospital Public Capital 
			  St. Lukes Development—Phase 1a, Nucleus Public Capital 
			  National Hospital For Neurology—Phase 1b (Bloomsbury) Public Capital 
			  Great Ormond St.—Phase 1 Redevelopment Public Capital 
			  George Eliot—Phase 3, Nucleus (Nuneaton) Public Capital 
			
			 1994 Solihull DGH—Phase 2 Contract 1, Nucleus Public Capital 
			
			 1995 Guy's Hospital Development—Phase 3 Public Capital 
			  Liverpool Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynaecology Public Capital 
			  Taunton And Somerset Hospital—Phase 2 Public Capital 
			  North Tyneside—Scheme 3 (North Shields) Public Capital 
			  Royal Devon and Exeter , Priority 2, Nucleus (Exeter) Public Capital 
			  Royal Lancaster Infirmary—Phase 3 Public Capital 
			
			 1996 Bolton DGH—Main Phase Public Capital 
			  Worthing Acute and Elderly Services—Main Contract Public Capital 
			  Royal West Sussex St. Richard's Redevelopment (Chichester) Public Capital 
			  Chorley Major Development—Phase 3 Public Capital 
			  Barnet General Hospital Public Capital 
			  Leeds General Infirmary Redevelopment Public Capital 
			
			 1997 Lewisham—Phase 2 Redevelopment Public Capital 
			  Birmingham CH Relocation to Steelhouse Lane Public Capital 
			  Royal Sussex County Hospital—Contracts 1-9 (Guildford) Public Capital 
			  Derriford DGH—Phase Iv (Plymouth) Public Capital 
			  Reprovision Black Notley and St. Andrews to Broomfield (Chelmsford) Public Capital 
			
			 1998 Royal Cornwall Hosp—Phase 5 (Treliske, Truro) Public Capital 
			  West Dorset DGH—Phase 2 (Dorchester) Public Capital 
			  Harrogate Rationalisation of Acute Services Public Capital 
			  Medway DGH Development (Gillingham) Public Capital 
			
			 1999 None __ 
			
			 2000 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals (Carlisle) PFI 
			  Pennine Acute Hospitals (Rochdale) Public Capital 
			  Dartford And Gravesham (Dartford) PFI 
			  Buckinghamshire Hospitals (Amersham and Wycombe) PFI 
			
			 2001 Sussex Partnership (Chichester) PFI 
			  Sheffield Teaching Hospitals—Stonegrove Public Capital 
			  Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Greenwich) PFI 
			  County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals (Durham) PFI 
			  Calderdale and Huddersfield (Halifax) PFI 
			  South Manchester University Hospitals PFI 
			  North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare (Stoke-on-Trent) PFI 
			  Norfolk and Norwich Health Care (Norfolk) PFI 
			
			 2002 Hereford Hospitals PFI 
			  Barnet and Chase Farm (Barnet) PFI 
			  Worcestershire Acute Hospitals (Worcester) PFI 
			  Blackpool Victoria Hospital Phase 5 Public Capital 
			  County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals (Bishop Auckland) PFI 
			  Royal Berkshire and Rattle Hospital (Reading) Public Capital 
			  Royal United Hospital Bath Redevelopment Public Capital 
			  King's Healthcare PFI 
			  Swindon and Marlborough PFI 
			  Leeds Mental Health Teaching PFI 
			
			 2003 Bromley Hospitals PFI 
			  Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals PFI 
			  Berkshire Healthcare (Reading) PFI 
			  West Middlesex University Hospitals PFI 
			  Northumbria Healthcare (Hexham) PFI 
			  South Tees Acute Hospitals (Middlesbrough) PFI 
			  St George's Hospital (Tooting) PFI 
			  Surrey PCT (Farnham) PFI 
			
			 2004 Barnet PCT Public Capital 
			  Lancashire Teaching Hospitals (Preston) Public Capital 
			  Central and North West London Mental Health (Chelsea and Westminster) Public Capital 
			  Wolverhampton—Cardiac Public Capital 
			  Gloucestershire Hospitals PFI 
			
			 2005 Dudley Group of Hospitals PFI 
			  University College London Hospitals PFI 
			  West London Mental Health (Broadmoor) Public Capital 
			  Guys and St. Thomas' Public Capital 
			  Hammersmith Hospital—Renal Centre Public Capital 
			  Kirklees PCT PFI 
			  Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals—City Hospital (Sandwell) PFI 
			  East London and The City Mental Health (Tower Hamlets) Public Capital 
			
			 2006 Plymouth—Cardiac Public Capital 
			  Liverpool—Cardiac Public Capital 
			  Wandsworth PCT (Roehampton) PFI 
			  North West London Hospitals (Central Middlesex) PFI 
			  Blackpool—Cardiac Public Capital 
			  Buckinghamshire Hospitals (Stoke Mandeville) PFI 
			  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (Morpeth) PFI 
			  Salisbury Health Care PFI 
			  East Lancashire Hospitals (Burnley) PFI 
			  Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership PFI 
			  East Lancashire Hospitals (Blackburn) PFI 
			  Newham University Hospital PFI 
			  University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (Coventry) PFI 
			  Southampton—Cardiac Public Capital 
			  The Whitt1ngton Hospital (Highgate) PFI 
			  Lewisham Hospital PFI 
			  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals (Romford) PFI 
			
			 2007 Hampshire PCT (Lymington) PFI 
			  Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals—Relocation PFI 
			  Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (Oxford) PFI 
			  Sheffield Teaching Hospitals PFI 
			  Northgate and Prudhoe (Newcastle) PFI 
			  Cambridge University Hospitals—Addenbrookes PFI

Hospitals: Costs

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the through-life costs of  (a) a conventionally procured hospital and  (b) a private finance initiative hospital.

Andy Burnham: To be approved, the private finance initiative (PFI) option for every national health service capital investment project must demonstrate that, overall, it is better value for money when compared to the publicly funded alternative, the public sector comparator (PSC). As part of the business case process a quantitative assessment involving an estimation of the discounted, risk adjusted whole life costs (facilities management, life-cycle for the full life of the contract) for both PSC and PFI options, is now performed using a standard model designed by HM Treasury.

Maternity Services: Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on changes to neonatal care at the Royal Shrewsbury hospital, with particular reference to the care of babies born under 27 weeks gestation.

Ivan Lewis: The NHS West Midlands strategic health authority reports that there has been no change in where babies of less than 27 weeks gestation are cared for within the Staffordshire, Shropshire and Black Country Newborn Network.
	Primary care trusts locally have provided additional funding in 2007-08 for neonatal services in the locality. Commissioners are working with the network to use this extra funding to increase the resources at the two proposed level 3 units. This will ensure that they can be staffed appropriately to provide the improved standard of care necessary for the smallest and sickest babies in the network, as described in the report by the expert review group on neonatal intensive care, published in 2003.
	Decisions about the size and locations of networks, including the number of hospitals and the levels of care provided, are for local decision and should reflect local need and geography.

NHS Direct

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the service provided by NHS Direct NHS Trust; and in what ways she plans to inform Parliament of its performance.

Andy Burnham: NHS Direct became an national health service trust on 1 April this year. The NHS Direct Board is responsible for monitoring the performance standards, which we have agreed with them. Senior officials will be meeting with the chief executive and senior management team quarterly to review performance against the objectives set out and agreed in their business plan. NHS Direct NHS Trust will lay before Parliament its annual report and accounts shortly.

NHS Direct

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of operating NHS Direct in each of the last three years.

Andy Burnham: Expenditure on NHS Direct for the years 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 is shown in the following table. Expenditure figures for 2006-07 are not yet available.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Revenue( 1)  Capital( 2)  Total 
			 2003-04 117.5 7.5 125 
			 2004-05 121 10 131 
			 2005-06 163 10 173 
			 (1) Revenue funding available to NHS Direct via primary care trusts. (2) Capital funding from the Department to NHS Direct.  Source: Department of Health

Primary Care Trusts

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts serve each parliamentary constituency.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 4 June 2007
	Information on parliamentary constituencies served by primary care trusts is available via the Department's website at:
	www.info.doh.gov.uk/nhsfactsheets.nsf.

Psychiatric Services: Waiting Times

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) average and  (b) longest waiting time was for outpatient psychiatric care in each NHS Trust in the latest period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 6 June 2007
	 Information on the median waiting time for a first out-patient appointment with a mental health consultant in the latest period for which figures are available is shown in the following table. It should be noted that waiting times collected by the Department relate to consultant-led services only.
	
		
			  Provider based out-patient waiting time information, mental health specialties, end of March 2007 
			 Number waiting (weeks) 
			  Organisation name  Total number waiting  Median waiting time (weeks)  0 <4  4 <8  8 <13  13+ 
			 Herefordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) 76 2.2 61 13 2 0 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 101 6.7 12 51 38 0 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 4 n/a 0 4 0 0 
			 Portsmouth City PCT 47 n/a 37 10 0 0 
			 Blackpool PCT 54 4.0 27 21 6 0 
			 Barnsley PCT 4 n/a 0 4 0 0 
			 Walsall PCT 11 n/a 8 3 0 0 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 65 2.2 47 16 2 0 
			 Central Lancashire 33 n/a 20 10 3 0 
			 North Yorkshire and York 42 n/a 33 8 1 0 
			 Dudley 84 3.5 48 27 9 0 
			 Hampshire 39 n/a 26 8 5 0 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare 45 n/a 38 7 0 0 
			 United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust 7 n/a 5 2 0 0 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 4 n/a 3 1 0 0 
			 Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS Trust 188 3.5 104 65 19 0 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 28 n/a 18 10 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 309 2.8 196 88 25 0 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 475 3.1 302 158 15 0 
			 City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust 30 n/a 5 15 10 0 
			 Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust 4 n/a 0 1 3 0 
			 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 21 n/a 15 6J 0 0 
			 Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust 132 3.3 77 42 13 0 
			 North Cumbria Mental Health and Learning Disabilities NHS Trust 39 n/a 22 16 1 0 
			 Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 61 2.6 46 13 2 0 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 5 n/a 4 0 1 0 
			 Lincolnshire Healthcare NHS Trust 113 3.0 67 32 14 0 
			 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust 82 6.6 21 32 29 0 
			 SW London and St. Georges NHS Trust 858 3.6 511 272 75 0 
			 Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust 90 2.5 66 22 2 0 
			 North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 242 2.2 190 44 8 0 
			 South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 37 n/a 20 15 2 0 
			 University College London NHS Foundation Trust 4 n/a 4 0 0 0 
			 Pennine Care NHS Trust 154 2.4 111 42 1 0 
			 Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust 432 3.1 282 138 12 0 
			 Suffolk Mental Health Partnerships NHS Trust 3 n/a 2 0 1 0 
			 5 Borough Partnership NHS Trust 92 3.8 49 38 5 0 
			 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust 299 3.9 152 113 34 0 
			 Hull and East Riding Community Health NHS Trust 170 2.8 112 53 5 0 
			 North Bristol NHS Trust 31 n/a 9 16 6 0 
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS 130 4.4 60 57 13 0 
			 Mersey Care NHS Trust 576 2.8 379 182 15 0 
			 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 52 4.1 25 22 5 0 
			 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 175 4.3 79 80 16 0 
			 South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 2 n/a 1 1 0 0 
			 Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 22 n/a 21 1 0 0 
			 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust 97 2.3 71 22 4 0 
			 Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust 170 2.6 119 40 11 0 
			 Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust 23 n/a 11 10 2 0 
			 Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust 34 n/a 20 13 1 0 
			 Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust 259 3.2 165 73 21 0 
			 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust 248 2.6 179 64 5 0 
			 Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust 254 3.1 160 69 25 0 
			 Bradford District Care Trust 102 2.8 68 32 2 0 
			 Manchester Health and Social Care Trust 238 3.0 150 77 11 0 
			 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust 3 n/a 0 1 2 0 
			 Sandwell Mental Health NHS and Care Trust 65 2.0 52 11 2 0 
			  Notes: 1. The figures are based on combined data from the following mental health specialties: mental illness, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, psychotherapy and old age psychiatry. 2. Statistically meaningful medians cannot be calculated where there is a total waiting list of less than 50.  Source: Department of Health QM08

Psychiatric Services: Waiting Times

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) average and  (b) longest waiting time was for psychiatric assessment referrals in each primary care trust in the latest period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 6 June 2007
	 Information on waiting times for psychiatric assessment referrals is not centrally available. Information on the median waiting time for a first out-patient appointment with a mental health consultant in each primary care trust is shown in the following table. It should be noted that waiting times collected by the Department relate to consultant-led services only.
	
		
			  Commissioner based out-patient waiting time information, mental health specialties, end of March 2007 
			 Number waiting (weeks) 
			  Organisation name—Primary Care Trust (PCT)  Total number waiting  Median waiting time (weeks)  0 <4  4<8  8< 13  13+ 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 1 n/a 0 1 0 0 
			 Havering PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Kingston PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Bromley PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Greenwich PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Barnet PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 North East Lincolnshire PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Hillingdon PCT 25 n/a 6 10 9 0 
			 Enfield PCT 1 n/a 1 0 0 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 City and Hackney PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Newham PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Haringey PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Blackburn with Darwen PCT 2 n/a 2 0 0 0 
			 Herefordshire PCT 76 2.2 61 13 2 0 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 1 n/a 0 1 0 0 
			 Newcastle PCT 13 n/a 13 0 0 0 
			 North Tyneside PCT 2 n/a 2 0 0 0 
			 Hartlepool PCT 1 n/a 0 1 0 0 
			 North Tees PCT 28 n/a 19 8 1 0 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 4 n/a 0 4 0 0 
			 Nottingham City PCT 79 3.4 45 28 6 0 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 69 2.0 53 10 6 0 
			 Plymouth PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Salford PCT 165 3.4 99 52 14 0 
			 Stockport PCT 65 2.6 44 20 1 0 
			 Portsmouth City PCT 51 2.7 41 10 0 0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 45 n/a 21 11 13 0 
			 Luton PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Rotherham PCT 20 n/a 10 8 2 0 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 38 n/a 17 20 1 0 
			 Blackpool PCT 8 n/a 7 1 0 0 
			 Bolton PCT 58 3.2 39 16 3 0 
			 Ealing PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Hounslow PCT 1 n/a 1 0 0 0 
			 Warrington PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Knowsley PCT 92 3.0 57 29 6 0 
			 Oldham PCT 16 n/a 8 8 0 0 
			 Calderdale PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Darlington PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Barnsley PCT 4 n/a 0 4 0 0 
			 Bury PCT 37 n/a 24 11 2 0 
			 Swindon PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Brent PCT 1 n/a 1 0 0 0 
			 Harrow PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Camden PCT 3 n/a 3 0 0 0 
			 Islington PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Croydon PCT 1 n/a 0 0 1 0 
			 Gateshead PCT 89 2.4 65 22 2 0 
			 South Tyneside PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 172 3.2 99 53 20 0 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 28 n/a 19 7 2 0 
			 Southampton City PCT 52 1.6 43 9 0 0 
			 Medway PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Westminster PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Lambeth PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Southwark PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Lewisham PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Wandsworth PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 31 n/a 26 5 0 0 
			 Brighton and Hove City PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 South Birmingham PCT 170 2.5 126 42 2 0 
			 Shropshire County PCT 1 n/a 0 1 0 0 
			 Walsall PCT 21 n/a 14 7 0 0 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 North Somerset PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Coventry PCT 4 n/a 3 1 0 0 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 63 2.3 44 17 2 0 
			 Heart of Birmingham PCT 35 n/a 24 10 1 0 
			 Leeds 153 3.0 94 45 14 0 
			 Kirklees 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Wakefield 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Sheffield 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Doncaster 1 n/a 0 1 0 0 
			 Derbyshire County 195 3.3 123 51 21 0 
			 Derby City 134 1.0 103 24 7 0 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching 150 2.9 91 46 13 0 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching 113 3.0 67 32 14 0 
			 Redbridge PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 County Durham 2 n/a 1 0 1 0 
			 Cumbria 39 n/a 22 16 1 0 
			 North Lancashire 15 n/a 6 7 2 0 
			 Central Lancashire 41 n/a 22 15 4 0 
			 East Lancashire 1 n/a 1 0 0 0 
			 Sefton 18 n/a 16 2 0 0 
			 Wirral 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Liverpool 352 2.9 228 112 12 0 
			 Halton and St. Helens 50 2.8 33 16 1 0 
			 West Cheshire 1 n/a 1 0 0 0 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire 1 n/a 0 1 0 0 
			 Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton 42 n/a 29 11 2 0 
			 Trafford 48 n/a 29 14 5 0 
			 Manchester 280 3.0 167 92 21 0 
			 North Yorkshire and York 63 1.9 50 11 2 0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 66 2.5 45 20 1 0 
			 Hull Teaching 103 3.1 66 33 4 0 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching 96 2.7 62 32 2 0 
			 South East Essex 1 n/a 0 1 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 West Hertfordshire 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 West Sussex Teaching 1 n/a 1 0 0 0 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Hastings and Rother 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 West Kent 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Leicester City Teaching 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching 60 2.6 46 12 2 0 
			 Dudley 78 3.3 47 22 9 0 
			 Sandwell 80 2.4 59 20 1 0 
			 Birmingham East and North 25 n/a 15 8 2 0 
			 North Staffordshire 81 2.8 54 24 3 0 
			 Stoke on Trent Teaching 72 3.9 37 29 6 0 
			 South Staffordshire 42 n/a 25 15 2 0 
			 Worcestershire 12 n/a 6 5 1 0 
			 Warwickshire 2 n/a 1 1 0 0 
			 Peterborough 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Norfolk 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney Teaching 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk 30 n/a 19 10 1 0 
			 West Essex 62 1.9 49 13 0 0 
			 North East Essex 85 2.3 64 15 6 0 
			 Mid Essex 92 2.2 75 15 2 0 
			 South West Essex Teaching 2 n/a 2 0 0 0 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent Teaching 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Hampshire 198 2.6 145 41 12 0 
			 Buckinghamshire 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Oxfordshire 1 n/a 0 1 0 0 
			 Berkshire West 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Berkshire East Teaching 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire 2 n/a 1 1 0 0 
			 Bristol Teaching 29 n/a 12 12 5 0 
			 Wiltshire 3 n/a 0 3 0 0 
			 Somerset 3 n/a 1 1 1 0 
			 Dorset 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Devon 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 18 n/a 16 2 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare 45 n/a 38 7 0 0 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 13 n/a 11 2 0 0 
			 Bexley Care Trust 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Torbay Care Trust 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Solihull PCT 15 n/a 12 3 0 0 
			  Note s :  The figures are based on combined data from the following mental health specialties: mental illness, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, psychotherapy and old age psychiatry. Statistically meaningful medians cannot be calculated where there is a total waiting list of less than 50.  Source:  Department of Health QM08r

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of recipients of antisocial behaviour orders in each year since their introduction were aged  (a) under 18 years,  (b) 18 to 64 years and  (c) 65 years and over;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of those breaching an antisocial behaviour order in each year since their introduction were aged  (a) under 18 years,  (b) 18 to 64 years and  (c) 65 years and over.

Vernon Coaker: The available information (up to 31 December 2005, latest available) is given in the tables. Information for those aged 65 years and over is not available separately.
	
		
			  Table A:  N umber of ASBOs proven in court to have been breached in England and Wales in each year 
			   Number of ASBOs breached( 3)  Percentage distribution of ASBOs breached by age group 
			  Age group( 1)  2000( 2)  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2000( 2)  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 10-17 7 64 134 354 828 1,353 54 52 53 50 44 40 
			 18+ 6 60 120 361 1,036 2,037 46 48 47 50 56 60 
			 Total 13 124 254 715 1,864 3,390 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			 (1) Age group is based on age at breach, not issue. (2) From 1 June 2000. (3) Note that an ASBO can be breached in more than one year, therefore persons may be counted more than once in this table.  Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  OCJR Court Proceedings Database. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of ASBOs issued at all courts in England and Wales in each year between 1 June 2000 and 31 December 2005 broken down by age group 
			   Number of ASBOs issued  Percentage distribution of ASBOs issued by age group( 2)  
			  Age group  2000( 1)  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  Total  2000( 1)  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  Total 
			 10-17 62 193 249 620 1,318 1,555 3,997 45 55 58 46 38 38 41 
			 18+ 63 144 169 698 2,057 2,416 5,547 46 41 40 52 60 60 57 
			 Unknown 12 13 8 18 65 89 205 9 4 2 1 2 2 2 
			 Total 137 350 426 1,336 3,440 4,060 9,749 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			 (1) From 1 June 2000 (2) Percentages have been rounded independently.  Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  As reported to the Home Office by the Court Service.

Asylum: Fingerprints

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce age restrictions on the fingerprinting of asylum seekers.

John Reid: We have no plans to change our policy on fingerprinting children who apply for asylum or who are the dependant of an asylum applicant. We currently start routine fingerprinting of asylum seekers at the age of five. Fingerprinting of asylum seeking children and dependants of asylum seekers who are aged under five years may be carried out when considered appropriate. Fingerprinting helps to protect children from being presented several times as dependants by different asylum applicants, provides us with a tool to combat possible trafficking operations and will help with identity management in the future.

Citizenship

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for citizenship were rejected on the grounds of  (a) character in each month since December 2006 and  (b) language or knowledge of the UK in each month since November 2005.

Liam Byrne: The requested information is shown in the table.
	Applications for British citizenship can be rejected (before full consideration) or refused (after full consideration). Applications for British citizenship are not rejected on the basis of an applicant's character. Data have therefore been provided on the number of applications refused on the basis of character. Applications can be both refused and rejected on the grounds of an applicant's knowledge of English or life in the UK so a total of both has been provided.
	Figures for 2005 and 2006 are a subset of data published as National Statistics. Data for 2007 are drawn from local management information and so have not been quality assured and are therefore provisional and subject to change; the figures are not part of National Statistics.
	Statistics on persons applying for British citizenship in the United Kingdom are published in the Home Office annual statistical bulletin, 'Persons Granted British Citizenship United Kingdom'. This publication is available from the Home Office website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		
			  Applications for British citizenship refused( 1)  on grounds of the applicant's character, December 2006 to April 2007( 2,)( )( 3) 
			  Month of refusal  Number 
			  2006  
			 December 110 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 185 
			 February 165 
			 March 145 
			 April 115 
		
	
	
		
			  Applications for British citizenship refuse( 1)  or rejected( 4)  on grounds of the applicant's knowledge of English or life in the UK, November 2005 to April 2007( 2,)( )( 3) 
			  Month of refusal or rejection  Number 
			  2005  
			 November 2,150 
			 December 1,155 
			   
			  2006  
			 January 760 
			 February 1,010 
			 March 835 
			 April 1,080 
			 May 690 
			 June 565 
			 July 490 
			 August 360 
			 September 320 
			 October 220 
			 November 110 
			 December 75 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 100 
			 February 160 
			 March 140 
			 April 100 
			 (1) Applications for citizenship refused after substantive consideration of the application. (2) Figures for 2005 and 2006 are a subset of data published as National Statistics. Data for 2007 are drawn from local management information and so have not been quality assured and are therefore subject to change. (3) Figures are rounded to five. (4 )Applications for citizenship rejected before substantive consideration of the application due to a lack of evidence of qualification.

Citizenship

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people met the requirements for citizenship but have not attended the citizenship ceremony in each month since the introduction of the ceremony; and how many of those were granted citizenship at his discretion.

Liam Byrne: The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost. When a citizenship application is successful, the basis of its success is not recorded for statistical purposes.

Costs: Ministry of Justice

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the formation of the Ministry of Justice has cost his Department.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 21 May 2007
	 There will be no additional costs to the Home Office arising from the establishment of the Ministry of Justice; certain agreed costs incurred by the Home Office as part of this process will be reimbursed by the Ministry of Justice.

Crimes Against Property: Greater London

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded offences of criminal damage by under 18-year-olds there were in each London borough in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage of these resulted in a criminal conviction, in each borough.

Vernon Coaker: Figures for the number of recorded offences of criminal damage committed by persons under 18 years old are not collected centrally. As a result it is not possible to determine the number which resulted in a conviction.

Departments: Delivery Unit

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1244W, on Departments: Delivery Unit, if he will place in the Library copies of the reviews conducted with the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit.

Liam Byrne: Reports arising from reviews undertaken by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit in conjunction with individual Departments are confidential advice to the Prime Minister and departmental Ministers, and are not published.

Departments: Manpower

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff funded by the public purse in his Department are classified as people without posts.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office, which includes the Border and Immigration Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau, has 99 staff currently funded by the public purse who are classified as people without permanent posts. This figure represents less than 0.33 per cent. of total Home Office staff.
	These staff are currently undertaking work for the Department while actively seeking other permanent posts either within the Home Office and its Agencies or in another Government Department.

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value was of annual private finance initiative payments made by his Department from  (a) capital and  (b) revenue budgets in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: PFI payments for the last five years are in the following table. All the payments are from revenue budgets.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  PFI project  2002- 03  2003- 04  2004- 05  2005- 06  2006- 07 
			 Home Office HQ 2 Marsham Street — — 3.55 38.36 40.48 
			 Identity and Passport Service PASS 19.80 19.80 20.70 19.90 — 
			 Home Office Sirius IT — 81.90 76.30 74.00 75.80 
			 Total 19.80 101.70 100.55 132.26 116.28

Departments: Smith Institute

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money from the public purse  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies gave to (i) the Smith Institute and (ii) its subsidiary SI Events Ltd. in each year since 1997; and for what purpose each payment was made.

Liam Byrne: The central Home Office and the Border and Immigration Agency accounting systems do not have any record of transactions with either of the organisations mentioned for the requested period.
	The two Home Office agencies, the Criminal Records Bureau and the Identity and Passport Service, also do not have any record of transactions with either of the organisations mentioned for the requested period.

Departments: Telephone Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the  (a) 0800,  (b) 0845 and  (c) 0870 telephone numbers for the public administered by his Department.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number  Purpose  Type 
			 0870 521 0410 Passport advice line Phone 
			 0870 240 8090 Passport advice line (Text Phone Service) Minicom 
			 0870 243 4477 Passport Inquiries for High Street Partners Phone 
			 0870 243 1902 Passport Complaints Phone 
			 0870 909 0778 Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure dispute line Phone 
			 0870 125 1256 Siemens Business Services Query Letters Phone 
			 0870 909 0844 Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure application line Phone 
			 0870 909 0223 Criminal Records Bureau Welsh Language Line Phone 
			 0870 909 0344 Criminal Records Bureau Minicom 
			 0870 241 4680 Home Office's mailing house, Prolog Phone 
			 0870 241 4786 Home Office's mailing house, Prolog Fax 
			 0870 220 2000 TOGETHER (advice line for practitioners on tackling antisocial behaviour) Phone 
			 0870 336 9031 Contact Private Office to John Reid Fax 
			 0870 336 9032 Contact Private Office to Baroness Scotland Fax 
			 0870 336 9033 Contact Private Office to Vernon Coaker Fax 
			 0870 336 9034 Contact Private Office to Liam Byrnes Fax 
			 0870 336 9035 Contact Private Office to Tony McNulty Fax 
			 0870 336 9036 Contact Private Office to Joan Ryan Fax 
			 0870 336 9038 Contact Private Office to Gerry Sutcliffe Fax 
			 0870 336 9048 Contact Parliamentary Branch Fax 
			 0870 336 9045 Contact Ministers' Special Advisers Phone 
			 0870 336 9041 Contact Private Office Management Support Unit Phone 
			 0870 336 9039 Contact Helen Edwards (Home Office Board Member) Phone 
			 0870 336 9037 Contact Permanent Secretary's Office Phone 
			 0870 606 1592 Immigration cases currently under consideration Phone 
			 0870 243 0100 Security Industry Authority Phone 
			 0800 389 7913 Asylum Support Tribunals (1 April 2007) Phone 
			 0800 587 5572 Work Permits UK Helpline Phone 
			 0845 010 6677 Employers' Helpline Phone 
			 0845 039 8002 PROSPECTS helpline Phone 
			 0845 601 1143 BIA Telephone Inquiry Bureau (MASS) Fax 
			 0845 601 2298 BIA Evidence and Inquiry line Phone 
			 0870 240 3781 Immigration Inquiry Bureau (enforcement and removals) Phone 
			 0845 300 2002 Independent Police Complaints Commission Phone 
			 0870 909 0811 Criminal Records Bureau General Inquiries Phone 
			 0870 909 0822 Criminal Records Bureau Registration Information Line Phone 
			 0845 602 1739 Inquiries about asylum support applications Phone 
			 0870 606 7766 Immigration Inquiry Bureau Phone 
			 0800 389 8289 Immigration Inquiry Bureau Minicom 
			 0870 241 0645 Requests for immigration application forms Phone 
			 0845 010 5200 Nationality telephone Inquiries Phone 
			 0870 521 0224 Request for work permit application forms Phone 
			 0845 600 0914 Voucher and discontinuation helpline Phone 
			 0870 241 6523 Inquiries about the work of the BIA Complaints Unit and advice to callers about how to complain Phone 
			 0845 010 5555 Inquiries about visas Phone 
			 0800 528 0982 HMP Preston Phone 
			 0800 496 0060 HMP Whitemoor Phone 
			 0800 496 0155 HMP Holloway Phone 
			 0800 496 3500 National Shared Service Centre Phone 
			 0800 528 0021 Remote Access Services Phone 
			 0800 528 0966 Prisoner Safety Line Phone 
			 0800 528 0967 HMP Feltham Young Offenders Substance Misuse Service Phone 
			 0800 528 0970 HMP Liverpool Anti-Bullying Hotline Phone 
			 0800 692 0170 HMP Stanford Hill Phone 
			 0845 010 0140 National Shared Service Centre Phone 
			 0845 010 0142 National Shared Service Centre Phone 
			 0845 010 3504 National Shared Service Centre Phone 
			 0870 000 0575 HMP Holloway Phone 
			 0845 010 3502 National Shared Service Centre Phone 
			 0845 010 3506 Phoenix User Support Phone 
			 0870 000 0504 PECS Phone 
			 0800 528 0950 HMP Belmarsh Phone 
			 0870 000 1397 Central Operators Glasgow Phone

Departments: Vetting

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are made of the membership of, and affiliation to, extremist groups of those employed by his Department.

Liam Byrne: All staff joining the Home Office require security clearance, and the level at which this is carried out is dependent on particular roles and responsibilities.
	Staff are security cleared to Enhanced Baseline Standard level and some are additionally cleared at a higher level—Counter Terrorist Checks, Security Check or Developed Vetting. Where a higher level check is carried out an individual is asked to complete a questionnaire which asks about involvement in terrorism, sabotage or actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliament by political, industrial or violent means. Where Developed Vetting is carried out—the highest level check—there is a mandatory face-to-face interview where these questions are put to individuals again and may be explored.
	If at any stage of the vetting process, or subsequently, information comes to light that a person has any affiliations which give cause for concern, full inquiries are made and appropriate steps taken. These could include refusal or withdrawal of clearance or even dismissal. Against the background of these checks, it would be redundant to ask Home Office staff to declare membership of extremist organisations.

Domestic Violence: Edmonton

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded instances of  (a) domestic violence towards women and  (b) trafficked women there were in Edmonton constituency in 2006.

Vernon Coaker: From the information collected centrally on recorded crime, it is not possible to identify recorded cases of domestic violence. Such offences are not specifically defined by law and details of the individual circumstances of offences are not collected.
	The offence of trafficking for sexual exploitation was introduced by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and was implemented in May 2004. Edmonton comes within the Enfield basic command unit and there were two offences of trafficking for sexual exploitation recorded by the police in Enfield in 2005-06.

Driving Under Influence: Breathalysers

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drink driving tests have been carried out by each police force in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Screening breath tests by police force area, 1995  to  2004 
			  Total tests 
			   1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Avon and Somerset 6,700 15,100 16,000 19,700 19,200 15,800 15,400 15,100 24,500 27,300 
			 Bedfordshire 6,100 6,400 6,000 5,300 2,900 3,300 4,200 6,200 6,600 7,800 
			 Cambridgeshire 16,300 16,200 19,100 17,800 13,600 12,800 12,700 13,000 12,300 12,300 
			 Cheshire 15,300 21,300 25,500 23,300 20,500 15,800 13,600 12,200 11,900 20,200 
			 Cleveland 28,200 26,100 31,600 34,200 28,600 18,800 14,100 11,000 8,700 8,100 
			 Cumbria 7,800 9,800 11,200 9,400 7,100 6,100 5,100 4,700 5,500 8,400 
			 Derbyshire 20,500 28,600 34,500 35,700 49,200 52,000 42,100 37,900 32,600 31,000 
			 Devon and Cornwall 6,800 9,100 15,200 15,700 14,700 13,000 13,500 12,600 10,900 10,700 
			 Dorset 5,800 7,400 9,100 10,100 9,200 12,300 10,400 10,400 8,500 7,000 
			 Durham 4,500 4,100 4,300 7,400 12,700 15,300 16,300 9,500 7,600 6,100 
			 Essex 27,700 32,400 28,700 28,400 24,100 27,200 18,900 16,100 15,500 25,300 
			 Gloucestershire 5,200 7,000 9,400 9,300 8,300 8,200 9,600 9,300 8,600 7,100 
			 Greater Manchester(1) 102,400 100,400 35,500 31,200 21,500 27,300 23,900 23,200 20,900 19,900 
			 Hampshire 17,000 18,200 25,000 27,300 31,600 35,200 35,200 35,200 37,500 38,400 
			 Hertfordshire 6,400 5,900 7,400 8,100 7,000 6,000 5,500 4,300 4,000 7,300 
			 Humberside 8,900 7,500 6,500 8,300 8,100 9,400 7,500 8,700 6,500 5,600 
			 Kent 9,200 8,100 9,100 27,500 32,700 32,200 32,200 34,200 24,600 32,000 
			 Lancashire 15,900 26,100 21,300 20,300 19,100 15,500 10,000 10,600 8,000 10,200 
			 Leicestershire 11,700 10,300 10,200 20,200 21,100 18,600 14,900 14,500 12,000 15,400 
			 Lincolnshire 15,600 15,800 20,200 25,900 21,000 12,100 13,600 9,000 12,100 11,300 
			 London, City of 3,300 4,500 3,600 3,300 1,700 1,100 1,100 1,400 1,200 700 
			 Merseyside 15,300 15,900 14,800 18,700 18,600 12,800 7,200 7,000 7,700 5,000 
			 Metropolitan Police 123,300 123,000 137,900 111,400 99,800 93,800 65,100 57,200 56,000 61,500 
			 Norfolk 4,200 5,500 9,200 12,400 11,600 9,100 9,100 5,300 4,000 4,800 
			 Northamptonshire 5,100 7,400 7,100 4,700 5,300 5,800 4,500 3,300 3,100 3,200 
			 Northumbria 5,800 8,400 11,900 12,200 12,500 12,700 12,400 11,800 11,100 9,800 
			 North Yorkshire 4,800 7,800 10,500 9,900 8,100 6,700 7,400 7,300 8,300 8,600 
			 Nottinghamshire 5,700 9,300 11,500 8,900 8,400 8,400 7,700 5,800 7,100 8,200 
			 South Yorkshire 11,000 13,300 14,200 12,600 16,100 19,200 18,000 14,400 12,100 6,500 
			 Staffordshire 6,300 9,700 13,800 15,400 10,100 7,700 4,700 5,300 5,100 13,700 
			 Suffolk 7,500 8,200 12,300 15,600 15,100 9,200 8,600 8,900 11,600 10,600 
			 Surrey 9,300 11,200 11,200 11,400 11,700 12,400 13,300 7,500 8,900 9,500 
			 Sussex 15,900 24,300 26,100 17,400 17,900 20,800 21,800 17,300 17,200 15,200 
			 Thames Valley 47,200 39,700 33,100 34,200 30,300 30,800 26,200 25,300 16,000 15,400 
			 Warwickshire 8,200 9,200 8,700 8,700 8,600 7,100 5,800 5,100 5,800 5,500 
			 West Mercia 19,900 18,100 18,300 19,100 12,300 8,900 9,100 8,200 6,300 8,000 
			 West Midlands 9,100 19,500 22,600 24,100 21,300 16,200 12,200 10,500 11,000 6,600 
			 West Yorkshire 15,800 19,500 23,300 22,900 18,800 18,300 17,200 16,700 14,200 16,900 
			 Wiltshire 10,000 6,300 7,400 7,100 6,800 6,500 5,900 5,900 5,900 7,400 
			 Dyfed-Powys 5,000 5,900 8,500 9,200 9,900 7,400 7,000 7,300 6,000 6,700 
			 Gwent 4,900 9,300 12,200 11,200 10,600 10,100 6,400 3,800 2,800 1,600 
			 North Wales 14,900 14,900 13,300 15,200 15,900 15,000 15,100 19,600 17,300 24,200 
			 South Wales 12,200 14,900 23,100 24,900 20,700 17,800 19,300 17,500 16,900 16,700 
			 Total 702,700 781,100 800,300 815,500 764,500 714,800 623,900 570,200 534,300 577,600 
			 (1) Following the introduction of new breath testing equipment in Greater Manchester in 1998, it became apparent that the total number of tests had been over-estimated in 1997 and adjustments were made. No adjustments for years prior to 1997 were recorded.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Breath Tests Statistical Collection, held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Genetics: Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what forecast he has made of the number of individuals who will have profiles on the National DNA Database in the next  (a) one,  (b) two and  (c) five years, broken down by ethnicity.

John Reid: A forecast of the total number of people expected to be on the NDNAD (not broken down by ethnicity) was produced for internal purposes in early 2006, giving an estimate of the total number of individuals expected to be on the Database in each year between 2007 and 2010. The then Home Office Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) made this public in response to a question from the hon. Member for Ashford (Damian Green) on 18 April 2006,  Official Report, column 290W. In a further reply to the hon. Member on 2 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1409W, he stated that there were no plans to estimate the future composition of the database by age, gender or ethnicity.
	There are no plans at present to make any further forecasts of the future numbers on the database, either in total, or broken down by ethnicity.

Genetics: Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to remove replicate samples from the National DNA Database.

John Reid: A study is being conducted of the issues involved in identifying and removing replicate profiles from the NDNAD, which is expected to report by the end of the year. Plans for handling of replicate profiles will then be made in the light of the conclusions.

Genetics: Databases

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people work in the National DNA Database Quality Team; what specialist training they receive; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ryan: holding answer 4 June 2007
	 There are currently five members of staff working in the National DNA Database Data Quality and Integrity Team (DQIT).
	All members of the team are trained to use the National DNA Database (NDNAD). Three members of the team also attended a formal Police National Computer training course while working in the police service. The other two members of the team are awaiting formal PNC training.
	The team is extremely experienced in dealing with PNC and NDNAD issues. Three members of the team are retired police officers who between them served over 87 years in the police service; the other two members of the team between them have over 12 years experience of working for the NDNAD Service Delivery Team.

Human Trafficking: Deportation

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many under-age victims of human trafficking were returned by the Government to their country of origin when they reached 18 years old in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The Border and Immigration Agency does not hold central records of the number of trafficked children, returned to their country of origin on reaching the age of 18 in the last five years.
	The Government published their UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking on 23 March 2007. On the same day, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary signed the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. Signature of the Convention marks a real commitment to implement the obligations it imposes and will provide a framework for the minimum rights and protection of all identified victims of trafficking, including those who reach the age of 18, having been trafficked to the UK as children. The Government are currently working through the detail of what is required to implement the convention effectively.

Identity Cards

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2007,  Official Report, column 459W, on identity cards, how long he expects the initial development period of the Employer Verification Service to be; and how he will set charges once the development period comes to an end.

John Reid: The development of the Border and Immigration Agency Employer Verification Service will continue throughout 2007. A charging model for any future checking service has not been defined but we will continue to keep this matter under review.

Licensing Laws: Bridgend

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of the new licensing laws on combating crime in Bridgend.

Vernon Coaker: We are conducting a full evaluation of the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on crime and disorder. This is ongoing and is due to be published towards the end of 2007. A separate monitoring exercise is looking at the impact of the Act on police recorded violent crime and criminal damage. Interim results from this exercise were published in July 2006. They show that there has been no change in the overall volume or timing of offences following the introduction of the Act. No separate arrangements have been made to examine the impact of the Act in Bridgend.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter to him dated 12 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms Geniene Patricia Williams.

John Reid: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 16 April 2007.

Migrant Workers

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many migrant workers are registered in  (a) Wales,  (b) England,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Northern Ireland, broken down by country of origin.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 March 2007
	 Work permits may be issued for periods of up to five years. The following table displays the number of currently valid work permits issued to non-EU citizens, plus Bulgaria and Romania, according to the area of the UK for which they provided an employer address.
	Data on the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS—EU citizens) is published quarterly in the Accession Monitoring Report (broken down by post office region), which can be accessed through the following website:
	http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/accession_monitoring_report
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	Statistics on grants of settlement on the basis of employment are published annually in table 5.4 of the Command Paper entitled "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom". The latest edition is that for 2005. Copies are available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		
			   England  Northern Ireland  Scotland  Wales  Total 
			 Afghanistan 52 0 0 0 52 
			 Albania 230 1 6 3 240 
			 Algeria 274 5 32 2 313 
			 Andorra 4 0 0 0 4 
			 Angola 74 0 19 0 93 
			 Antigua 20 0 0 0 20 
			 Argentina 1,562 17 41 10 1,630 
			 Armenia 63 1 5 1 70 
			 Australia 19,944 54 630 139 20,767 
			 Azerbaijan 146 0 37 0 183 
			 Bahamas 31 0 0 0 31 
			 Bahrain 45 1 3 2 51 
			 Bangladesh 3,611 26 186 101 3,924 
			 Barbados 259 0 5 8 272 
			 Belarus 434 14 120 6 574 
			 Belize 32 2 2 1 37 
			 Benin 8 0 2 0 10 
			 Bhutan 5 0 0 0 5 
			 Bolivia 50 0 3 0 53 
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina 82 1 7 0 90 
			 Botswana 443 21 42 10 516 
			 Brazil 2,016 12 68 19 2,115 
			 British Dependant Terr. 15 0 0 1 16 
			 British National Overseas 1,633 66 172 50 1,921 
			 British Overseas Citz. 52 0 3 0 55 
			 Brunei 74 0 14 0 88 
			 Bulgaria 4,125 127 379 497 5,128 
			 Burkina Faso 13 0 0 0 13 
			 Burma 2 0 0 0 2 
			 Burundi 10 0 0 0 10 
			 Cambodia 5 0 1 0 6 
			 Cameroon 532 3 18 11 564 
			 Canada 7,402 49 416 124 7,991 
			 Chad 2 0 2 0 4 
			 Chile 289 1 21 4 315 
			 China Peoples Republic of 19,855 473 1,126 684 22,138 
			 Colombia 712 3 53 4 772 
			 Comoros 2 0 0 0 2 
			 Congo 120 0 1 0 121 
			 Costa Rica 46 0 3 1 50 
			 Croatia 427 1 10 6 444 
			 Cuba 212 1 0 4 217 
			 Djibouti 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Dominica 62 0 4 0 66 
			 Dominican Republic 42 0 0 0 42 
			 Ecuador 58 0 2 0 60 
			 Egypt 999 8 62 38 1,107 
			 El Salvador 18 0 1 0 19 
			 Eritrea 9 0 5 0 14 
			 Ethiopia 86 1 5 1 93 
			 Faroe Islands 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Fiji 57 1 7 2 67 
			 Gabon 7 0 2 0 9 
			 Gambia 198 1 12 1 212 
			 Georgia 114 0 2 1 117 
			 Ghana 4,067 11 129 41 4,248 
			 Grenada 58 0 1 0 59 
			 Guatemala 16 1 2 0 19 
			 Guinea 14 0 1 0 15 
			 Guyana 615 3 168 16 802 
			 Haiti 11 0 0 0 11 
			 Honduras 18 0 2 1 21 
			 Hong Kong (British) 351 19 37 12 419 
			 Hong Kong (Chinese) 996 44 113 44 1,197 
			 India 104,111 2,116 3,256 2,284 111,767 
			 Indonesia 631 1 40 10 682 
			 Iran 889 3 88 25 1,005 
			 Iraq 152 1 12 11 176 
			 Israel 1,280 4 33 23 1,340 
			 Ivory Coast 48 0 2 0 50 
			 Jamaica 2,443 1 45 9 2,498 
			 Japan 10,369 21 206 244 10,840 
			 Jordan 489 7 11 13 520 
			 Kazakhstan 303 1 29 2 335 
			 Kenya 3,125 37 126 54 3,342 
			 Kiribati 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Kosovo 27 0 3 0 30 
			 Kuwait 84 0 3 0 87 
			 Kyrgyzstan 60 0 1 0 61 
			 Laos 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Lebanon 919 1 16 2 938 
			 Lesotho 182 8 15 8 213 
			 Liberia 14 0 1 0 15 
			 Libya 221 1 23 15 260 
			 Macedonia 163 0 4 1 168 
			 Madagascar 9 0 0 0 9 
			 Malawi 526 3 35 23 587 
			 Malaysia 10,459 146 498 218 11,321 
			 Maldives 24 0 1 2 27 
			 Mali 44 0 0 0 44 
			 Mauritania 4 0 0 0 4 
			 Mauritius 2,996 7 49 19 3,071 
			 Mexico 917 2 43 10 972 
			 Moldova 912 71 11 4 998 
			 Monaco 7 0 0 0 7 
			 Mongolia 72 1 10 0 83 
			 Montenegro 6 0 0 0 6 
			 Morocco 428 8 9 4 449 
			 Mozambique 12 0 0 1 13 
			 Myanmar 340 8 14 7 369 
			 Namibia 188 2 9 4 203 
			 Nauru 17 0 1 0 18 
			 Nepal 1,865 54 197 79 2,195 
			 New Zealand 7,034 9 188 59 7,290 
			 Nicaragua 8 0 0 0 8 
			 Niger 13 0 0 0 13 
			 Nigeria 7,175 65 330 130 7,700 
			 North Korea 4 0 0 0 4 
			 Oman 44 0 18 2 64 
			 Pakistan 11,784 137 922 211 13,054 
			 Palestine 114 1 6 1 122 
			 Palestinian Authority 9 0 2 0 11 
			 Panama 23 0 0 0 23 
			 Papua New Guinea 15 0 0 0 15 
			 Paraguay 22 0 0 2 24 
			 Peru 170 1 9 1 181 
			 Philippines 34,983 1,385 1,405 2,060 39,833 
			 Puerto Rica 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Qatar 16 0 0 0 16 
			 Romania 4,074 314 169 244 4,801 
			 Russia 3,475 52 217 41 3,785 
			 Rwanda 11 0 1 1 13 
			 Samoa 30 0 2 0 32 
			 Sao Tome and Principe 2 0 1 0 3 
			 Saudi Arabia 379 0 5 3 387 
			 Senegal 104 0 1 0 105 
			 Serbia 303 1 12 1 317 
			 Seychelles 137 1 4 0 142 
			 Sierra Leone 387 0 6 2 395 
			 Singapore 2,083 5 79 11 2,178 
			 Soloman Islands 0 0 2 0 2 
			 Somalia 26 0 0 0 26 
			 South Africa 26,850 184 873 574 28,481 
			 South Korea 3,015 25 80 51 3,171 
			 Sri Lanka 3,257 14 83 60 3,414 
			 St. Helena 40 0 0 0 40 
			 St. Kitts 18 0 0 0 18 
			 St. Lucia 170 0 5 0 175 
			 St. Vincent 69 0 0 0 69 
			 Stateless 16 0 0 2 18 
			 Sudan 261 3 14 8 286 
			 Surinam 6 0 2 0 8 
			 Swaziland 290 3 36 11 340 
			 Switzerland 142 0 6 3 151 
			 Syrian Arab Republic 348 2 16 13 379 
			 Tajikistan 20 0 1 0 21 
			 Taiwan 703 10 24 10 747 
			 Tanzania 427 6 7 5 445 
			 Thailand 3,888 24 146 45 4,103 
			 Togo 19 0 4 0 23 
			 Tonga 13 0 0 13 26 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 1,646 1 35 22 1,704 
			 Tunisia 199 1 13 0 213 
			 Turkey 2,342 4 67 17 2,430 
			 Turkmenistan 27 0 5 0 32 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Uganda 602 3 14 4 623 
			 Ukraine 3,253 462 162 136 4,013 
			 United Arab Emirates 44 0 3 0 47 
			 United States of America 34,308 118 1,135 316 35,877 
			 Uruguay 66 0 4 2 72 
			 Uzbekistan 128 0 2 1 131 
			 Vanuatu 4 0 0 0 4 
			 Venezuela 433 1 73 4 511 
			 Vietnam 231 10 9 9 259 
			 Western Samoa 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Yemen Republic of 28 1 1 0 30 
			 Yugoslavia 377 0 22 3 402 
			 Zaire 2 0 0 0 2 
			 Zambia 1,862 35 79 67 2,043 
			 Zimbabwe 12,750 43 327 154 13,274 
			 Total 387,330 6,393 15,401 9,216 418,340

Migrant Workers

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will sign the UN Convention on the rights of migrant workers and their families.

Liam Byrne: We have no plans to sign the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The rights of migrant workers are already protected in UK legislation, including under the Human Rights Act 1998.

Migrant Telephone Services

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding was provided by his Department to Migrant Helpline in the last year.

Liam Byrne: Migrant Helpline received funds totalling £13.4 million in the financial year 2006-07 to provide one stop services in Dover, Gravesend, Hastings and Margate, and initial accommodation services in Ashford, Croydon, Dover and Margate.

Passports

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is retained by the Identity and Passport Service on people to whom passports have been issued.

John Reid: The Passport Application Support System (PASS) contains the personal data provided by the individual on the application form, the progress history of the application, and details of the passport issued, as shown on the personal data page of the passport.
	Thus, the personal details held on the system are:
	(1) applicant's name,
	(2) gender,
	(3) date of birth,
	(4) town and country of birth,
	(5) the names, dates of birth and places of birth of both parents (in most cases),
	(6) details of naturalisation or registration certificates where appropriate,
	(7) address and other contact details,
	(8) name and passport number of countersignatory,
	(9) passport number,
	(10) issuing authority,
	(11) dates of validity,
	(12) the photograph displayed on the passport,
	(13) the signature displayed on the passport,
	(14) nationality.
	In addition, the full progress history of an application is held on the system. This would include information such as the date the record was created, the date the issue of a passport was authorised as well as any notes made by UKPS staff during the consideration of the application. A complete copy of the application form is also stored on the system. Supporting documents provided by applicants to verify information provided may also be scanned into the record and since December 2003, all completed forms reporting lost, stolen or recovered passports have been stored on the database.
	The system also holds information about all passports issued to a person under the same name. Furthermore, since September 2004, when an applicant has applied for a renewed passport and has changed their name, PASS automatically adds notes linking the new and previous passport records.
	The UK Passport Service has an outsourced PFI contract with Siemens Business Services, a component part of which is to provide support and maintenance to PASS. The contract provides for per transaction charges which also includes receipt, cashiering and data capture of all passport applications, therefore it is not possible to separate the amount relevant solely to the system costs.

Police Custody

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been remanded in police custody for a further period of 192 hours provided for under the Drugs Act 2005 for drug trafficking offences.

John Reid: The Home Office does not collect this data centrally.

Police National Computer

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 26 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1076W, on the police national computer (PNC), how many PNC records were checked for the purposes of the audit; and what percentage this was of the total number of records on the PNC at the time.

John Reid: The audits were two research exercises in 2001 and 2002 undertaken by the Home Office to assess the accuracy of criminal record information held on the Police National Computer partly in preparation for the establishment of the Criminal Records Bureau. The first exercise compared 5,543 offence records extracted from the Court Proceedings database with the equivalent information on the Police National Computer. This comprised court results for all courts in England and Wales on a single day selected at random. The second exercise focused on a sample of convictions for sex offences and comprised three periods of one month each spanning a three year period. A total of 3,236 offence records were checked in respect of 1,298 people. The research does not show what percentage of this was the total number of records on the PNC at the time.

Police: Lost Working Days

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of working days were lost due to  (a) sickness and  (b) stress, anxiety or depression in each police authority area over the last five years.

Tony McNulty: Sickness data for each police authority area are not available for the last five years and the Home Office does not collect sickness data with relation to specific illnesses. Sickness data for each police authority are collected in the published Police Performance Assessments 2005-06 and are available in the House of Commons Library and electronically at:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/performance-and-measurement/performance-assessment/assessments-2005-2006/

Proscribed Organisations

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations have been proscribed using terrorism legislation; and for what reasons in each case.

John Reid: A total of 42 international terrorist groups, two domestic groups and 14 Irish groups are currently proscribed. There have been four orders to date. The first, proscribing 21 international organisations became effective in March 2001. The second, adding four more organisations, was in November 2002 after the bombings in Bali. The third was in October 2005, adding another 15 organisations to the list. The most recent order came into force on 26 July 2006 and added two organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000 and two organisations under powers introduced in the Terrorism Act 2006 for glorifying terrorism. The Irish groups were proscribed under the previous emergency legislation. A full list of proscribed organisations can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/proscribed-groups
	A copy of the list has been placed in the Library.
	A summary of the reasons for the proscriptions of each group were laid in Parliament at the time of each order in an explanatory memorandum.

Written Questions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to answer question 105573, on special advisers, tabled on 6 December 2006 by the hon. Member for Fareham.

Liam Byrne: I replied to the hon. Member on 4 June 2007,  Official Report, column 268W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departments: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's special advisers were on  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid leave in order to assist with party political matters under section 22 (iii) of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers on Wednesday 16 May 2007; and how many days' leave each adviser was granted.

Hilary Benn: Special advisers' involvement in party political matters is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, including section 22 (iii), and the guidance issued by the Cabinet Secretary in December 2006 and May 2007, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

Iraq: Internally Displaced Persons

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who represented the UK at the United Nations conference in Geneva on Iraqi refugees and internally displaced people on 17 and 18 April 2007; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of that conference.

Hilary Benn: At the UNHCR Conference in Geneva, the UK delegation consisted of senior officials from DFID, FCO and the Home Office.
	The conference was successful in drawing international attention to the plight of the displaced Iraqis inside Iraq and in the region, and recognising the burden this places on host communities and countries. The main outcome of the conference was the Government of Iraq's commitment to take the lead in providing support and security for its citizens, including for those who have fled the country. The conference also agreed a new UN Strategic Framework for humanitarian action in Iraq, which will coordinate UN action in support of the Iraqi Government's efforts. Further assistance to support the displaced was also pledged by a number of international donors. We are now working with the UN and other partners to ensure that the Strategic Framework is taken forward.
	Since January, DFID has provided £10 million to support emergency relief and other services to displaced and vulnerable Iraqis. This takes our total humanitarian assistance to over £125 million since 2003. We will continue to work closely with the Iraqi Government and our international partners to ensure needs are met.

Iraq: Internally Displaced Persons

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the number of internally displaced people in Iraq; and what efforts the UK Government is taking to help those displaced people.

Hilary Benn: The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are approximately 2 million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Iraq. Over 820,000 of these have been displaced since February 2006 following the attack in Samarra.
	In 2007, DFID has provided £10 million to support humanitarian relief efforts to help vulnerable Iraqi groups, including those displaced in Iraq and across the region. This includes a £7 million contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); a £1 million contribution to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support internally displaced people; a £1.5 million contribution to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to support displaced Iraqis in the region; and a £500,000 contribution towards the setting up of a UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordination office in Amman and Baghdad, to help support the Iraqi Government's efforts and facilitate a coherent international response to the situation. Since 2003, we have contributed over £125 million for humanitarian assistance to Iran.

JUSTICE

Administration of Justice

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what plans she has to improve access for litigants to copies of statutes in force.

David Hanson: Litigants in person, as members of the public, have access online to two main sources of current legislation. First, the website of the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) at www.opsi.gov.uk provides access to both primary and secondary legislation in the form in which it was enacted. Secondly, the statute law database (SLD), maintained by the Statutory Publications Office (SPO), provides access to primary legislation revised to incorporate the effects of subsequent legislation. SLD was made available to the public in December 2006 and can be accessed at:
	www.statutelaw.gov.uk.
	All the primary legislation held on SLD has been updated with the effects of legislation enacted at least up to the end of 2001. Most of the legislation on the database is also up to date to the present. The effects of legislation enacted in the years 2002 to 2006 are currently being applied to the database. SPO and OPSI are currently undertaking a programme of work designed to avoid unnecessary duplication between the two websites and to make access to legislation as seamless as possible to the public.

Children's Act 1989

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice whether she has plans to publish on the internet the Children's Act 1989 consolidated with the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Children Act 2006 and other relevant legislation.

David Hanson: The revised version of the Children Act 1989, incorporating the effects of legislation enacted up to the end of 2002, and including those of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, was published on the internet when the statute law database was made available to the public in December 2006. The effects of legislation enacted in the years 2003 to 2006, including those of the Children Act 2006, are in the process of being applied to the database. It is expected that the Children Act 1989 will be republished with those effects incorporated by the end of August 2007.

Departments: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many of her Department's special advisers were on  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid leave in order to assist with party political matters under section 22 (iii) of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers on 16 May 2007; and how many days' leave each adviser was granted.

Bridget Prentice: Special advisers' involvement in party political matters is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, including section 22 (iii), and the guidance issued by the Cabinet Secretary in December 2006 and May 2007, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

Family Courts

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what measures are in place to ensure that family lawyers dealing with children have the required staff training and qualifications to ensure that the children in their care have the best representation; and how many family lawyers have been disciplined for practising without having the required training and qualifications in the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) operates accreditation schemes for solicitors practising in family law and specifically for solicitors acting for children (and adults) in public law care proceedings. There are currently around 3,000 solicitors on the family law scheme and around 2,000 solicitors on the child law scheme.
	Accreditation is not a requirement for practice in family or child law, but it would be a disciplinary matter for a solicitor to claim accreditation if they do not have it. We are not aware of any cases referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in relation to this matter.
	The Bar Council, which is responsible for the training of barristers, does not impose any requirements on barristers to undertake training in family or child law.
	Members of the Institute of Legal Executives must work under the supervision of a solicitor. Only those legal executives who are members of the SRA's Children Panel may represent children in family proceedings. In the last five years, one member was disciplined for practising without having the required training in a family matter.

Joint Ministerial Committee

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice 
	(1)  what plenary and functional meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee there have been since 1999; which Ministers attended; and what the subject matter was of each meeting;
	(2)  what the date is of the next scheduled plenary meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee.

Bridget Prentice: The Government are not at present proposing to organise a plenary meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC).
	The JMC has met in various functional formats to discuss specific policy areas such as Health, Poverty, the Knowledge Economy and Europe. There have been at least 48 plenary and functional meetings of the JMC since 1999. Of these four subject areas, the JMC on Europe meets most regularly and is serviced by staff from the Cabinet Office. The Department does not hold a complete record of which Ministers have attended these meetings.

Probation: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what assessment she has made of the social impact of the performance of the community probation service in Nottinghamshire.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Details of the performance of the 42 probation areas in England and Wales against targets set for the National Probation Service for the years between 2001-02 and 2006-07 may be found in the National Probation Service performance report issues one to 24, all of which are posted on the NFS web site at:
	www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk/output/page34.asp
	Performance report 24, detailing performance for the 2006-07 reporting year, showed Nottinghamshire to be the fifth highest performing area in the weighted scorecard. The scorecard ranks probation areas according to their performance across the range of key indicators.

Restoration Justice Programmes

David Burrowes: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how much the Government have spent on restorative justice programmes in 2006-07; and what plans it has for future funding.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have not provided any specific funding for adult restorative programmes in 2006-07. It is for Local Criminal Justice Boards and other criminal justice agencies to consider how best to use their funding to meet their targets and local needs and a number of areas have established schemes to deliver adult restorative justice. The Government's strategy is to encourage, but not require, the use of adult restorative justice while building the evidence base to establish the impact of its use, particularly in relation to re-offending. It has commissioned independent research to evaluate the Crime Reduction Programme Restorative Justice Pilots, which is expected to be completed and published this year and this will inform its future strategy.
	Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) use restorative justice as part of their work to prevent offending and increase victim satisfaction. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has currently set a key performance indicator that
	"victims participate in restorative processes in 25 per cent. of relevant disposals referred to the YOT, and 85 per cent. of victims participating are satisfied."
	YOTs implement this work from their own resources which, during 2005-06, included YJB grant covering approximately 20 per cent. of YOT resources.
	Under the Treasury Invest to Save (Round 6) programme, £1.5 million was allocated to pilots of Family Group Conferences to enhance the overall effectiveness of Youth Inclusion Support Panels. The FGC pilot ceased on 31 March 2007 when the three year funding came to an end.
	From April 2007-10, Treasury ISB funding has been allocated to a Restorative Teen Panels project in Preston, Lancashire and a "Restorative Justice in Residential Children's Homes" project in Leicestershire.
	The YJB publication, "Developing Restorative Justice—An Action Plan" sets out how restorative justice will be broadened and extended in the youth justice system.

Sexual Offences: Essex

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many of those convicted of sexual offences have absconded while  (a) on parole,  (b) on early release and  (c) serving a suspended sentence in Essex in each of the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is not available in the precise form requested.
	In the period between April 2005 and February 2007 all offenders who were (i) serving a determinate sentence for a sexual offence; (ii) released on licence either automatically at the halfway point of sentence or on parole licence; (iii) on licence and subject to supervision by the Essex Probation Service; and (iv) recalled to prison for breaching the conditions of their licence were apprehended by the police and returned to custody.
	Out of 32 cases recorded on the sex offender register and on a suspended sentence supervision order within the past 12 months in Essex, 1 has absconded. Essex Probation Service raised a warrant without bail immediately, and the offender was arrested. Records indicate that no further offence was committed during the abscond period.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Pay Gap

James McGovern: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent progress has been made in reducing the pay gap between men and women.

Meg Munn: Latest data show that the pay gap between men and women has been falling steadily but not fast enough. On 2 April we launched a report setting out the comprehensive programme of action across government to reduce the gender pay gap, one year on from the Women and Work Commission's recommendations. Last month my Department hosted a conference with Opportunity Now for employers to discuss best practice on increasing gender equality in the workplace.

Equal Opportunities: Housing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government are taking to promote equality in the provision of social housing.

Meg Munn: The existing allocation legislation is designed to ensure that priority for social housing is based fairly and squarely on housing need. Priority for social housing is not determined by a person's race, nationality or immigration status. Local authorities must ensure that their allocation policies and procedures do not discriminate, directly or indirectly, on grounds of race or ethnicity.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departments: Recruitment

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department paid to recruitment consultants in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: Most NIO recruitment is currently carried out free of charge by NI Recruitment Service, an agency of the Department of Finance and Personnel. Recruitment consultants are used only where Recruitment Service competitions fail to produce suitable candidates or where executive searches are required to identify suitably skilled and experienced applicants. The following are the total amounts paid by the Northern Ireland Office core Department to recruitment consultants during the calendar years 2000-07. Information prior to 2000 is unavailable.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 44,800 
			 2003 5,483 
			 2004 34,736 
			 2005 0 
			 2006 69,644 
			 2007 (to date) 0

PRIME MINISTER

Departments: Data Protection

Grant Shapps: To ask the Prime Minister how many times his Office was found to have been in breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-East (Mr McFadden) on 6 June 2007,  Official Report, column 591W.

Departments: Legal Costs

Grant Shapps: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent by his Office on legal fees in each of the last five years.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 June 2007,  Official Report, column 591W.

Social Mobility

Justine Greening: To ask the Prime Minister which Government Department is responsible for social mobility policy; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 24 May 2007,  Official Report, columns 1449-50.

SCOTLAND

Departments: Advertising

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which  (a) advertising agencies and  (b) other organisations supplied consultancy services for advertising campaigns for (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in each of the last five years; and what the cost of these services was.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has not incurred any expenditure which relates to consultancy services for advertising campaigns.

Departments: Advertising

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on advertising by his Department in each of the last five years.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has spent the following on advertising:
	
		
			   Amount (£) 
			 2002-03 10,390 
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 17,510

Departments: Internet

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for which Government websites he is responsible; how many visitors each received in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the cost  (a) was of establishing and  (b) has been of maintaining each site.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office is responsible for its own website—www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk—which was established in 2004. The annual costs of designing, building and hosting the website are set out in the following table. Management and updating of the site are the responsibility of the Office's Press Office and separate figures are not available. Visitor figures are only available for 2006-07.
	
		
			  Financial year  Cost (£)  Unique visitors 
			 2004-05 24,718 n/a 
			 2005-06 4,964 n/a 
			 2006-07 840 37,877

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Departmental Structure

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from bodies representing British businesses on the structure and functions of his Department.

Alistair Darling: I have received many such representations.

Business Regulation

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to reduce the number of regulations imposed on business and industry.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department's programme for reducing regulation is set out in our Better Regulation Simplification plan, which was published on 11 December last year. This sets out ambitious plans for reducing the administrative burden DTI regulations impose on business towards our target of 25 per cent. by 2010. We will publish an updated report on the progress we have made, and the further plans we have, later this year.
	Measures we have already taken include:
	Ensuring that new legislation comes into effect on just two common commencement dates, which is especially helpful for smaller businesses;
	Helping business implement regulations with clearer information through the cross Government website www.businesslink.gov.uk:
	Bringing in comprehensive guidance on maternity leave and pay;
	Enabling other departments, business people, consumer representatives and the unions to scrutinise policy proposals through a ministerial challenge panel.

Manufacturing: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage high-skilled manufacturing in the West Midlands.

Malcolm Wicks: Manufacturing remains a critical part of the West Midlands economy. The Government are working closely with Advantage West Midlands to develop the new regional economic strategy which will encourage manufacturers to move to high value added production through the application of science and innovation, world-class practice and skills development.

Intellectual Property Rights

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in response to the joint statement of intent to create and implement an intellectual property rights programme between the UK and India since 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The joint statement of intent was signed in June 2006. Under the JETCO agreement between India and the UK, we are currently developing a bilateral action plan with the Indian IPR authorities in order to put in place a technical assistance programme for Indian Government officials dealing with IP.

Sub-postmasters

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to increase the contractual freedom afforded to sub-postmasters.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government have no role in determining the terms applying to sub-postmasters through their contract with Post Office Ltd.
	The sub-postmasters and mistresses who own and operate 97 per cent. of the UK's post office network are private business people. They are free to develop their associated retail business and to enter into contracts with anyone they choose as long as the products provided are not excluded under the terms of their contract with Post Office Ltd. because they would be in direct competition with key Post Office products.

Post Office Closures

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to announce decisions on which post offices will close.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan).

Vibration White Finger: Compensation

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what authority his Department has granted to Capita to interview under caution claimants for compensation for vibration white finger.

Malcolm Wicks: It is a sad fact of life that a very small percentage of claims appear to be fraudulent. It is entirely appropriate that Capita, on behalf of the Department, should investigate where fraud or any other criminal offence is suspected. They do so through agreed procedures which protect the legal positions of both the interviewee and the Department.
	Where appropriate, interviews are conducted under caution in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and with the full authority of the Department.

Community Trade Union: Communitas Development for the Future

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding was given to  (a) Community Trade Union and  (b) Communitas Development for the Future in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: For 1997 the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	From 1998 onwards there have been no payments by DTI to either Community or Communitas Development for the Future.

Departments: Epilepsy

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people with epilepsy are employed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In line with commitments on confidentiality given to staff, the Department does not maintain central records of the detail of an individual's disability or long-term health condition. Currently approximately 8 per cent. of all staff within the Department have recorded a disability or long term health condition.
	All staff with disabilities or long term health conditions, including epilepsy and related conditions, are encouraged to discuss with their line managers any impact on their work and reasonable adjustments that may help within the work place. Reasonable adjustments to assist staff with epilepsy could include additional time off for medical appointments, awareness training for team members, adjustments to work objectives or targets, adjustments to lighting, seating or IT equipment, advice from our Occupational Health Service and flexible working.

Departments: Legal Costs

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent by his Department on legal fees in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department has spent the following on legal fees:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004-2005 4,427,415 
			 2005-2006 1,927,871 
			 2006-2007 4,576,382 
		
	
	Due to a change in the accounting system, figures for 2002-03 and 2003-04 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Recruitment

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department and its agencies paid to recruitment consultants in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Central records indicate that the following payments in total have been made to recruitment consultants.
	
		
			  Core DTI 
			   £ 
			 2003-2004 1,269,335 
			 2004-2005 1,779,732 
			 2005-2006 2,431,175 
			 2006-2007 1,388,192 
		
	
	
		
			  UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) 
			   £ 
			 2003-2004 4064 
			 2004-2005 20,984 
			 2005-2006 147,284 
			 2006-2007 5,897 
		
	
	
		
			  Employment Tribunals Service (ETS) (transferred to Department for Constitutional Affairs on 1 April 2006) 
			   £ 
			 2003-2004 13,885 
			 2004-2005 10,411 
			 2005-2006 16,585 
		
	
	I have asked Chief Executives of the Executive Agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member.
	Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Electricity

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to increase the intelligence capability of the electricity distribution network through broadband enabled smart meters.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 4 June 2007
	The Government have set out their position on metering and billing in the Energy White Paper, which includes an ambition to see a universal roll out of domestic smart meters within 10 years. We will consider how to take this forward in consultation with stakeholders, including issues related to technology and communications. Energy suppliers are separately undertaking a programme of work, overseen by Ofgem, to address the issue of inter-operability of smart meters. This work includes an examination of the communications systems that underpin smart meters.

Employment: Equality

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1212W, on employment equality, what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 on company benefits other than pensions available to retired employees; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is still too early to assess the effect in practice of these regulations on company benefits other than pensions. Such benefits available to retired employees may be covered by the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 where the former employee can show that any age discrimination is closely linked to the former employment relationship.

Galileo Project

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the financial implications of the UK's involvement with the Galileo project.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply 
	and will answer this question shortly.
	 Substantive answer from  Dr.  Ladyman to Nigel Evans:
	The European Union (EU) and member states of the European Space Agency (ESA) jointly fund the design and development programme for Galileo. To date the UK's subscription to the ESA element of the programme has been €142 million.
	The EU's contribution to the design and development programme is made from the EC budget and is estimated by the Commission to be €790 million. The UK's contribution to the EC budget is around 17 per cent. of the total, before the UK receives any abatement. The United Kingdom makes its contributions to the EC Budget as a whole and not to individual spending programmes within it. There is not an identified United Kingdom contribution to the design and development programme via the EU budget.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  when his Department informed solar photovoltaics installers of the decision to reduce the maximum household grant under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme by 83 per cent;
	(2)  when his Department informed micro wind installers of the decision to reduce the maximum household grant under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme by 50 per cent.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer s 4 June 2007
	Further to the announcement in the Budget 2007 that an additional £6 million would be made available for the household stream, we suspended the scheme to allow us to discuss with industry representatives how to re-structure the scheme to make best use of the monies available in order to meet the programmes objectives.
	We announced on 9 May a number of changes to the programme, including the introduction of a £2,500 cap per household. By introducing this measure among others, we will be able to use the limited funds available to support an increased number of microgeneration installations across all technologies.
	The scheme re-opened to applicants on 29 May.

Minimum Wage: Enforcement

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time enforcement officers monitor non-compliance with the minimum wage.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	There are currently 71 full-time NMW Compliance Officers and nine part-time Compliance Officers, located in 16 HMRC NMW Compliance Teams. Each team is managed by a Higher Officer Team Leader.

Post Offices: Cheltenham

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices were open in the Cheltenham district in May of  (a) 1987 and  (b) 1997; and how many are now open.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook, the managing director, has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices: Cornwall

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which post offices in Cornwall closed in each year since 1979, broken down by Parliamentary constituency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 5 June 2007
	This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook the managing director has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Postal Services: EC Law

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what  (a) obligations and  (b) restrictions are imposed by the EU Services Directive on (i) Post Office Limited and (ii) the Royal Mail.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The EU Services Directive does not impose requirements on Post Office Ltd. or Royal Mail. The services directive is intended to deliver a competitive market in services and eliminate certain barriers to the provision of services. Legislative and administrative requirements imposed on service providers will need to be assessed for compliance with the directive. In the cases of Post Office Ltd. and Royal Mail, the relevant requirements fall largely under the regulatory regime established pursuant to the Postal Services Act. If those requirements do not comply with the directive, they will need to be amended or abolished.

Solar Power

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's estimate is of the lifetime carbon saving from  (a) a 2.5kWp domestic solar photovoltaics system and  (b) a 4m2 domestic solar hot water system.

Malcolm Wicks: As part of the EEC3 (Energy Efficiency Commitment) programme, the carbon savings for domestic solar PV and solar hot water systems have been calculated using the carbon factor from the DEFRA 'Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Reporting':
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/envrp/gas/envrpgas-annexes.pdf
	Taking this into account, for a lifetime of 25 years, a typical domestic PV installation would save 6.21 tC.
	The energy savings of solar thermal panels depend upon the water heating system displaced. The following table lists the values assumed for a 4m2 domestic hot water installation in the EEC3 Illustrative Mix:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/eec3-2007/letter.htm
	
		
			   Energy saved per year (kWh)  Annual carbon saving (kgC/yr)  Lifetime carbon saving( tC)  Lifetime CO 2  saving tC0 2  Comments 
			 Gas CH 1,577 81.7 2.04 7.49 — 
			 Electric storage heating 1,240 145.7 3.64 13.36 — 
			 Oil central heating 1,500 102.0 2.55 9.35 — 
			 Solid fuel central heating 2,050 167.5 4.19 15.35 — 
			 Gas non-CH 1,230 145.0 3.63 13.29 Water is heated by electricity 
			 Electric non-CH 1,230 145.0 3.63 13.29 Water is heated by electricity 
			 Solid fuel non-CH 1,230 145.0 3.63 13.29 Water is heated by electricity 
			   
			 Weighted average over all heating types 1,548 88.9 2.22 8.15 —

TRANSPORT

Airports: Security

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the security and safety implications of the sale in the departure sectors of airports of goods deemed unsuitable to be taken on planes.

Gillian Merron: Goods that are listed as prohibited items should not be sold in retail outlets located in the departure lounges of airports. Airport managers and Department for Transport inspectors are responsible for ensuring that shops comply with this requirement, and that supplies to shops located in the departure lounges are screened or have been kept secure, prior to being permitted into the airport.

Buses: Middlesbrough

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether bus companies operating in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland are on course to meet Government targets for low-liner bus levels in their fleet of  (a) 50 per cent. by 2010 and  (b) 100 per cent. by 2017.

Gillian Merron: No such assessments are made by the Department at constituency or local authority level. The latest survey shows that, as on 31 March 2005, 47 per cent. of local buses in the north-east region as a whole are low-floor, and this is likely to increase as older vehicles are replaced. The region as a whole is therefore well on course to meet the 2010 target.
	By 2017 all full-sized buses used on scheduled services will need to comply with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations. These regulations do not require low-floor construction, but many operators have chosen low-floor construction as the best way to improve buses for passengers with reduced mobility.

Compulsory Purchase: Weald Smokery

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the compulsory purchase order for the Weald Smokery in East Sussex.

Stephen Ladyman: Draft orders for the A21 schemes have not yet been published, so no properties are currently subject to compulsory purchase. However, the owner of the Weald Smokery served a Statutory Blight Notice on the Secretary of State and this was accepted. The property has therefore been acquired under the blight provisions contained in section 154(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This property is now being managed by the Highways Agency's property agents. To enable the existing business to continue to trade throughout the marketing period for a new lease, a short term lease has been provided to the Weald Smokery's former business manager.

Departments: Publicity

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which  (a) advertising agencies and  (b) other organisations supplied consultancy services for advertising campaigns for (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in each of the last five years; and what the cost of these services was.

Gillian Merron: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Sovereign Strategy

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department and its predecessor held with Sovereign Strategy in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Gillian Merron: Since the Department for Transport was formed in 2002, Ministers have attended two events either solely or partly organised by Sovereign Strategy.
	On 14 December 2005, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Halton, (Derek Twigg) spoke at the 'Local Government Transport conference' which Sovereign Strategy helped organise.
	On 16 May 2006 a representative of Sovereign Strategy attended a meeting between the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Halton, and the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus).
	Additionally Transport Ministers have attended other events not organised by Sovereign Strategy but at which individuals employed by them may have been present. No record is kept of such encounters.
	Information regarding officials could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Telephone Services

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what total revenue was raised by the use by agencies responsible to his Department of 0870 numbers in each year since 1997.

Gillian Merron: The total revenue raised by Department for Transport agencies since the Department was formed in 2002 is as follows:
	
		
			   Total revenue (£) 
			  DVLA  
			 2002-03 656,164 
			 2003-04 874,965 
			 2004-05 1,945,131 
			 2005-06 2,423,517 
			 2006-07 2,894,284 
			  DSA  
			 2002-03 (1)n/a 
			 2003-04 (1)702,326 
			 2004-05 (1)706,399 
			 2005-06 (1)693,254 
			 2006-07 (1)623,284 
			  HA (2)0 
			  MCA (2)0 
			  VGA (3)0 
			  VOSA  
			 2002-03 (1,4)n/a 
			 2003-04 (4)10,386 
			 2004-05 (4)63,407 
			 2005-06 (4)72,397 
			  GCDA (3)0 
			 n/a = not available (1 )Figures only available since 2003-04 (2 )0870 service is non-revenue generating (3 )Has no 0870 numbers (4 )Figures only available from 2003-04. 2005-06 figure is subject to completion of audited accounts

Driving: Disabled

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department and the Highways Agency provides to disabled drivers in the case of  (a) a breakdown in a road tunnel and  (b) other circumstances where they are unable to reach emergency telephones.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 6 June 2007
	The advice given to disabled people, whether they breakdown in a road tunnel or in other circumstances where they are unable to reach an emergency roadside telephone, is the same as that contained in the Highway Code (Rule 252). That is to stay in their vehicle, switch on hazard warning lights and display a 'Help' pennant or, if they have a car or mobile telephone, contact the emergency services and be prepared to advise them of their location.

Driving: Disabled

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department and the Highways Agency are taking to ensure that the  (a) Dartford Tunnel,  (b) Mersey Tunnel,  (c) Blackwall Tunnel,  (d) Rotherhithe Tunnel and  (e) Tyne Tunnel can be used safely by people with disabilities.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 6 June 2007
	 Only the Dartford crossing is the responsibility of the Highways Agency and all drivers are informed, through signage at the entrance to the tunnels, to remain in their vehicles for their safety if there is an incident.
	Both tunnels at the Dartford Crossing have 100 per cent. CCTV coverage, which is constantly monitored in the control room located in the adjacent compound. In addition the crossing has its own dedicated traffic officers and regular patrols are made through each tunnel. These measures allow Crossing staff to attend an incident within five minutes to assist all drivers and passengers.
	In 2005, an Accessibility Audit Report was prepared for the crossing as a whole looking at the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Various improvements relating to the tunnels have been identified which will assist in improving safety conditions for all users. A programme of improvement works, taking into account the constraints of the tunnels, is being developed in conjunction with the EU Directive on Tunnel Safety.
	In addition a live exercise is planned for later this year to test the logistics of evacuating disabled people from the tunnels. Any lessons learnt will be reviewed and if possible incorporated into improvement works.
	With regard to the other crossings mentioned, these are the responsibility of  (b) Merseytravel,  (c) and  (d) Transport for London and  (e) Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority. As public authorities, all these bodies are subject to the Disability Equality Duty and must ensure that the needs of disabled people are taken into account throughout all their functions and services, including provision of highway infrastructure.
	The operators of these tunnels also have additional duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as service providers. In particular, we would expect them to have developed detailed plans covering all eventualities in their tunnels.

Eurostar: Ashford Kent

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to authorise changes to the Eurostar train services from Ashford International Train Station.

Tom Harris: Eurostar has to set its timetables to meet its obligation to operate a sound commercial business. The Government have no formal role in this.

Galileo Project

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when he expects the UK to be able to make full use of the Galileo satellite system;
	(2)  what proportion of the budget for the Galileo project is expected to be met by the private sector;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the sharing of the risks associated with the Galileo project between  (a) national governments,  (b) the European Union and  (c) private sector investors.

Stephen Ladyman: Following the Commission's report of a breakdown in the public private partnership (PPP) contract negotiations the March Transport Council gave the bidding consortium a deadline of 10 May 2007 to resolve their differences and meet certain conditions to allow the resumption of effective negotiations. At the same time the Commission was requested to prepare for the June Transport Council an analysis of the consortium's response and alternative options for taking forward the project. We have been assessing the Commission's report.
	At the June Transport Council, it is likely that Ministers will be asked to decide that the current negotiations have failed and that the Commission should explore more thoroughly the alternative options for proceeding with the project. Public sector governance will also be considered.
	The timetable for the programme, its funding, risk sharing between national governments, the EU and private sector investors along with its organisation are therefore subject to these decisions. The Commission proposed date for deployment is 2012.

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 16 May 2007,  Official Report, columns 750-1W, on Heathrow Airport, what estimate his Department has made of the additional number of passengers travelling to and from Heathrow Airport by  (a) private car,  (b) hire car and  (c) taxi/minicab that would result from an increase from 480,000 movements per year to 720,000 movements per year; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 6 June 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 4 June 2007,  Official Report, column 107W. Estimates of future trips to the airport by various modes will be given as part of the forthcoming consultation.

Heathrow Airport

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects mixed mode operations to start at Heathrow.

Gillian Merron: The Government intend to consult later this year on how best use can be made of the existing runways at Heathrow through mixed mode.

Heathrow Airport: Noise

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when his Department next intends to review its excessive noise policy on aircraft departing from Heathrow Airport; whether this review will include an assessment of noise regulation of aircraft arriving at Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what criteria are used to judge the appropriate noise limits for aircraft departing Heathrow Airport in relation to the  (a) daytime limit,  (b) shoulder period limit and  (c) night limit; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of noise limits in operation at Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: holding answer s 6 June 2007
	Following consultation, the current departure noise limits were introduced in December 2000. The daytime limit (0700-2300) 94dBA (a reduction of 3dB) came into effect in February 2001. The night time limit (2330-0600) 87dBA came into effect in March 2001. The previous night-time limit of 89dBA (a reduction of 2dB) was retained for the shoulder periods (2300-2330 and 0600-0700). These limits are kept under review.
	The Government's Aircraft Noise Monitoring Advisory Committee (ANMAC) considered in 1999 the feasibility of setting noise limits for arriving aircraft. It concluded that it would not be appropriate to do so, due to the very limited discretion available to pilots once established on the final approach. ANMAC recommended the development of a code of practice for arriving flights for air traffic controllers, airlines and airport managers. The code was originally produced in 2002 with a revised edition being issued in November 2006. The code focuses on the use of continuous descent approach as the practice most conducive to noise abatement.
	Annual noise contours representing noise from both arriving and departing aircraft are produced by the Civil Aviation Authority's Environmental Research and Consultancy Division. These contours are based on data from fixed and mobile noise monitor sites installed by BAA under departure tracks at Heathrow. The data are used to monitor compliance with Government noise limits at Heathrow and is reported regularly through the airport's Noise and Track Keeping Group and the Consultative Committee.
	These contours which have been produced for many years also give the local community an indication of how many people are affected by a level of noise. The 57dBa Leq is used as the level of daytime noise marking the approximate onset of significant community annoyance.

Heathrow Airport: Noise

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce the Australian N/70 system for measuring noise disturbance around Heathrow airport.

Gillian Merron: There are no plans to introduce the Australian N70 noise index at Heathrow. Aircraft noise exposure around Heathrow is quantified using noise contours based on the 16-hour Leg noise index. This index is based on significant scientific research correlating the Leq index with noise disturbance responses. No such correlation currently exists relating N70 contours with disturbance.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors he took into account in increasing the vehicle registration fee from 38 to 50; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The increase in first vehicle registration fee from 38 to 50 was implemented to ensure that the DVLA driver and vehicle registration costs continue to be covered by the fees levied. This is necessary for the DVLA to comply with its statutory duties as an executive agency and trading fund. The initial vehicle fee increase was mirrored by a smaller increase from 38 to 45 for the first provisional driving licence.
	The fee increases result from three public consultations over a two-year period in which the different options for meeting the DVLA budget envelope were explored in detail and gradually focused on the two fees noted. The consultation reports and conclusions were shared with respondents to the consultation and are published on the DVLA website. The explanatory memorandum to the changes in regulations summarises these. In essence, the DVLA undertakes 62 different registration transaction streams to maintain the vehicle and driver registers, but is only able to levy fees on 10 of these. Hence 16 per cent. of the transactions carry the costs for all the register maintenance and, of these, the 3,000,000 first vehicle registrations and the 950,000 first provisional driving licences bear the brunt. Other transactions such as change of vehicle keeper or of address are not fee-bearing, to encourage compliance, and these transactions have increased in number far faster than chargeable transactions.
	DVLA has made very significant productivity gains over the last four years and by 31 March 2008 will have reduced its costs for the 2004 by some 50 million. However, its volumes have increased by around 15 per cent. during the same period. This has resulted in a rise in total costs. Conclusions drawn from the consultations were that the preferred way of addressing this was to increase the fees.

Parking: Disabled

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate has been made of the number of people with temporary disabilities who do not meet the criteria for a disabled parking permit;
	(2)  what plans he has to allow people with temporary disabilities access to a disabled parking permit.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 6 June 2007
	The Department is conducting a full strategic review of the Blue Badge Scheme. The review will consider the issue of temporary badges, including the potential impact of their inclusion within the Scheme. The review and upcoming reforms will help to make the scheme fairer, more consistent, tougher on fraud and easier to understand. We are scheduled to receive the findings in September 2007.

Public Transport

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve the contribution of the transport infrastructure to the economy.

Gillian Merron: The Eddington Transport Study's recommendation to focus investment aimed at improving productivity on the three strategic priorities of congested and growing city catchments, key inter-urban corridors and key international gateways. The Department for Transport's 2007 annual report details estimated capital spending of over 5.9 billion in 2006-07 to support reliable and efficient local, regional and inter-regional transport systems. Furthermore, the Transport Innovation Fund will provide more than 9 billion over seven years from 2008-09 to support schemes of benefit to national productivity, and innovative local transport packages aimed at tackling congestion. The Department's formal response to the Eddington recommendations will be published in the autumn alongside the comprehensive spending review.

Railways: Hampshire

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will hold discussions on expanding the train network in  (a) Portsmouth and  (b) the rest of Hampshire; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Harris: I would be pleased to meet relevant MPs to discuss the Department's approach to development of the railway in Portsmouth and the rest of Hampshire.
	No funding is specifically allocated to new railways or re-openings. We are, nevertheless, always prepared to look at proposals of this sort put forward as priorities by regions and local authorities, provided that they are supported by a proper business case.
	The Southern Regional Planning Assessment for the railway was published in January this year and sets out the Department's thinking on this issue. The Secretary of State has made a commitment that 1,000 additional train carriages, to lengthen trains and alleviate crowding on the most congested routes across England and Wales, will result from Department for Transport's High Level Output Specification to Network Rail for 2009-14. This will be published in July.

Railways: Reading Berkshire

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what upgrades are being planned for the up and down relief lines between Reading and London Paddington.

Tom Harris: In relation to upgrades for the up and down relief lines between Reading and London Paddington, the Network Rail Business Plan 2007 says: We plan to increase relief line speeds to 90 mph on 86 per cent. of the route.
	The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's Chief Executive at the following address for a fuller response to her question:
	John Armitt
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London NW1 2EE

Railways: Stoke on Trent

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding is available to reopen strategic and inter-regional links of disused rail lines, including the Leek to Stoke-on-Trent line; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Harris: No funding is specifically allocated to rail re-openings. We are, nevertheless, always prepared to look at proposals of this sort put forward as priorities by regions and local authorities, provided that they are supported by a proper business case. I am not aware of any current plans to re-open the Stoke-on-Trent to Leek line but any proposal which did come forward would be considered on this basis.

Rolling Stock

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the 1,000 new train carriages announced in his speech on 14 March 2007 he estimates will be manufactured in the UK.

Tom Harris: Once the industry has assessed where new carriages can best be deployed to improve capacity and determined the types of trains required, I expect orders for new rolling stock to be placed on the basis of competitive tender.
	UK manufacturers and component suppliers will be able to compete for those contracts on the same basis as other bidders.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many calls for assistance the Royal National Lifeboat Institution received on  (a) Sunday 27th and  (b) Monday 28th May 2007, broken down by vessel.

Stephen Ladyman: All Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) launches are reported to and co-ordinated by Her Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG).
	HMCG co-ordinated the following number of incidents in which RNLI lifeboats were involved:
	27 May42 incidents;
	28 May26 incidents;
	Total68 incidents.
	The following table shows the breakdown by type of vessel for 27 and 28 May:
	
		
			   Commercial  Fishing vessel  Yacht  Other pleasure( 1)  Other( 2)  None( 3)  Total 
			 27 May 3 4 15 10 3 7 42 
			 28 May 0 1 10 6 1 8 26 
			 (1) Including personal water craft. (2) Other = where not possible to determine purpose of vessel. (3) None = where no vessels were involved.

Tolls

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account is being taken of the special needs of drivers with disabilities in the forthcoming road pricing scheme pilots; and what lessons have been learned from the experience in London of the congestion charge.

Stephen Ladyman: The Secretary of State announced in a written ministerial statement on 8 February 2007,  Official Report, column 47WS, the publication of guidance for local authorities interested in developing business cases for funding from the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) for local schemes to tackle congestion. The road pricing section of this guidance covers exemptions and discounts. The Department has not drawn any conclusions from the London Congestion Charge on the treatment of drivers with disabilities. Any authorities putting forward local pricing schemes will need to have considered such issues, taking account of local circumstances.

Tolls: Global Positioning System

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether satellite local authority road pricing schemes will be able to use the  (a) American GPS,  (b) Russian Glonas and  (c) Chinese Beidou satellite global positioning systems.

Stephen Ladyman: There are presently no proposals from local authorities for satellite based charging systems. The use of signals from different systems will be dependent on the technology selected at the time that any such scheme were proposed.

TREASURY

Departments: Ministerial Red Boxes

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tendering process is used to decide which company supplies ministerial red boxes to his Department.

John Healey: holding answer 8 May 2007
	As the value of orders placed for the supply of ministerial red boxes is below the minimum HM Treasury threshold for competition, the requirements are placed on a single tender basis with Barrow and Gale Ltd.
	All Government Departments operate a similar minimum threshold for competitive tendering.

London Development Agency

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the borrowing limit of the London Development Agency was in 2006-07; and how much it will be in 2007-08.

John Healey: It is for the Mayor of London, as part of the wider GLA arrangements, to set the borrowing limits for the LDA on an annual basis, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003.

Revenue and Customs: Conferences

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many conference bookings have been  (a) booked and  (b) cancelled by HM Revenue and Customs with Travelocity since June 2006; and what the cost was to the public purse of each.

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs aim to minimise the costs of cancelled event and conference bookings by confirming the availability of attendees prior to booking.
	However, since HMRC is an operational department which has been undergoing a rapid degree of reorganisation in recent years, it is an unfortunate fact: (i) that members of staff are often obliged at short notice to pull out of prior commitments to attend events or conferences because of their operational responsibilities, and (ii) that the restructuring or reorientation of staff responsibilities will also occasionally make planned events and conferences redundant.
	Where this necessitates the cancellation of events or conferences, the department's contract with Travelocity requires Travelocity to negotiate down any cancellation fees to the minimum possible.
	It is the view of HMRC's management that where conferences and events cease to be viable due to low attendance or become redundant due to the restructuring of unit and team responsibilities, it is the least costly option simply to cancel the event and incur any necessary cancellation fees, rather than pressing ahead with such an event, thereby incurring the higher direct costs of the event and the opportunity cost involved in wasting staff time.
	In the period between 1 July 2006 to 31 March 2007, a total of 39 conferences and events were cancelled with the resulting imposition of cancellation fees, around 7 per cent. of the total number of events and conferences organised during that period.
	Around a third of this total relates to cancellations in October 2006 alone, when extensive reorganisation within the department and operational pressures led to the cancellation of 14 separate events at late notice with resulting fees totalling 24,000.
	Excluding the exceptional month of October, the average monthly number of cancelled events incurring cancellation fees over this period was three, and the average monthly cost was 3,400.

Taxation: Dentistry

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with representatives of the dental profession on their tax and national insurance status since 1 April 2006.

Edward Balls: There have not been any discussions between Treasury Ministers and representatives of the dental profession about the employment status of dentists for the purposes of tax and national insurance contributions since 1 April 2006.

Voucher Schemes: Day Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of employers who are offering child care vouchers; and how many employees are covered by the scheme;
	(2)  what the estimated annual cost was to the Exchequer of child care vouchers in each of the last three years.

Edward Balls: Employers and employees are not required to report the provision of tax-free employer supported child care provided to employees since the tax and national insurance contributions exemptions were introduced in April 2005.
	HMRC commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), an independent social research organisation, to monitor the initial impact of the reforms to the tax and NICs exemptions for employer-supported child care, from the employer's perspective. This was published on 6 December 2006 on HM Revenue and Customs' website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/research-report23.htm.
	The research estimated that during 2005-06 around 9,600 employers were offering childcare vouchers. It also includes information on the number of employees using the tax and NICs exemptions at this time, indications of how this may change in the future, income levels of the beneficiaries and the average size of claims made.

Welfare Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Ministers first requested calculations to be made in relation to the cost of introducing the 25,000 income disregard as referred to in the answer of 13 December 2005,  Official Report, column 1836W, on tax credits; and when they received those calculations.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 23 May 2007
	The 25,000 disregard was introduced as part of a balanced package of measures with rights and responsibilities for claimants. Some measures in the package have a cost to the Exchequer while others have a yield. Ministers received information on the Exchequer effect of the package as part of their deliberations leading up to the 2005 pre-Budget report, when the package was announced.
	Following publication of the 2004-05 overpayment statistics in May 2006, HMRC had two years of overpayment statistics to inform this costing. Unlike in 2003-04, awards in 2004-05 were based on the previous years' income making them much more representative of future years awards. In addition the first stage of the finalisation process for 2005-06 was completed in August 2006, adding to this body of knowledge. This allowed HMRC to publish a separate cost for the disregard in November 2006.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of  (a) overpayment and  (b) underpayment there were in the Child Support Agency for Bexley residents in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 7 June 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply form the Chief Executive.
	.
	We contacted your office to clarify the information you required, and it was agreed that this information was the number of people who were paying less than they should have in terms of underpayment i.e. case compliance, and for overpayments, the cases where the Agency was later shown to have incorrectly assessed the case i.e. the accuracy of cases. The information we hold is given in the attached table.
	Information has been provided on the umber of cases charged and how many of these are full, partial or nil payers. Those cases that are partial or nil payers can be regarded as underpayers. Cases with full compliance are paying at least the full amount of maintenance due. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide the quantity of overpayments made by the Agency at the Parliamentary Constituency level. The Agency uses a sample of cases to measure overpayments throughout the Agency, and as a result of the size of this sample this information is only accurate at the Agency level.
	I am sorry but due to limitations with the available information it is only possible to provide information regarding underpayments at Parliamentary Constituency level for old and new scheme cases on the new computer system (CS2) and not for those on the old system. As the new scheme went live in March 2003 this information should be interpreted as a naturally growing caseload. It is not possible to provide this information going back the full five years.
	
		
			  Case compliance of non-resident parents on the new system in Bexleyheath and Crayford 
			   Charged  Nil payment  Partial compliance  Full compliance 
			  As of March:  Number  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 2003 0 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 2004 80 30 39 20 24 30 37 
			 2005 200 60 32 60 30 80 38 
			 2006 290 100 34 90 33 100 33 
			 2007 380 150 40 110 28 120 32 
			  Notes: 1. The table shows the number of new system cases that were charged money via the collection service over a three month period and the number of cases which a payment was/was not received over the same period. 2. Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10 and percentages are rounded to the nearest whole percent.

Children: Maintenance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parent families eligible to receive child support benefit do not receive the benefit because the father does not contribute to the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to my right hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 7 June 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lone parent families eligible to receive Child Support benefit do not receive the benefit because the father does not contribute to the Child Support Agency.
	In order to ensure that a complete answer is provided clarification was obtained from your office to ascertain the intent of the question. It was agreed that you required the volume of cases where child maintenance is not received from the non-resident parent. The information requested can be obtained from table 7.1 of the March 2007 Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary Statistics by deducting the number of cases received from the number of cases charged.
	A copy of this is available in the House of Commons Library, or on the Internet via the following link: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/child_support/csa_quarterly_mar07.asp.
	The Agency's management information is case based and relates to all parents with care, which means lone parent families cannot be isolated.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			  CSA Table 7.1: Case Complianceamended to include total cases where maintenance not received( 1) 
			  Quarter ending March 2007  Number/percentage 
			  Overall Agency  
			 Total cases charged 509,100 
			 Total cases received 338,500 
			 Case compliance (percentage) 66 
			   
			 Total cases not received 170,600 
			 (1) This table shows the number of cases that were charged money via the Agency's collection service over a three month period and the number of cases from which a payment was received from over the same period.  Notes: 1. The table above includes those old-scheme cases with either a Full Maintenance Assessment or an Interim Maintenance Assessment; plus those new-scheme cases with either a Full Maintenance Calculation, or a Default Maintenance Decision. New-scheme cases being processed clerically are excluded from this analysis. New scheme cases classed as maintenance direct at the end of the month are excluded. 2. Cases are classed as compliant if they are currently open, and have been charged and paid money via the collection service (either regular maintenance and/or arrears) over the preceding quarter.

Children: Poverty

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of children raised by  (a) married couples,  (b) unmarried couples and  (c) single parents are estimated to live below the poverty line.

Jim Murphy: We measure the poverty line as households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income. Income is measured before housing costs: this is the international norm.
	Information requested for lone parents is available in the Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2005-06 (revised), table 4.5 on page 46. This is available in the House of Commons Library.
	The following table reports the proportion of children in poverty at a point in time by family type. We do not have data for children raised by different family types. These figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors and the information refers to the United Kingdom.
	
		
			  Percentage of children living in households below 60 per cent. median income (before housing costs) by family type: 2005-06 
			   Percentage 
			 Married couples 17 
			 Unmarried couples 23 
			  Source: Family Resources Survey 2005-06OECD equivalisation scale

Departments: Consultants

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the outside  (a) agencies and  (b) consultancies which are undertaking work commissioned by his Department; and what the (i) purpose and (ii) cost is of each commission.

Anne McGuire: A table detailing current contracts and committed expenditure as at 22 May 2007 has been placed in the Library. Excluded from this table are engagements for Legal consultancy. This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only by incurring disproportionate cost.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  when the Department expects all those currently eligible to receive funds under the financial assistance scheme and who are 65 years old or over to receive payments; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much the Financial Assistance Scheme has paid out to members of schemes that wound up before 6 April 2005 with insufficient funds to cover all pension entitlements; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many people who are eligible to receive funds under the financial assistance scheme are 65 years old or over; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The FAS is currently paying all eligible members of qualifying schemes aged 65 and over for whom acceptable member data has been received. Before payments can be made the FAS Operational Unit is dependent on receiving acceptable data from the trustees, and confirmation of personal details from the member. We are actively encouraging trustees in qualifying schemes to provide data on eligible members as quickly as possible. The FAS will make payments within a month of receiving acceptable member data; there is no backlog of payments in FAS.
	The FAS has paid a total of 4,351,024 gross (3,384,030 net) to 1,166 qualifying members as at 11 May 2007.

Jobseeker's Allowance

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) nurses and  (b) midwives claimed jobseeker's allowance in each of the last three years.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available.

New Deal for Young People

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to refresh the new deal for young people.

Jim Murphy: The new deal for young people has been a success, helping more than 732,000 young people into work from its inception up to the end of November 2006 (the latest point for which figures are available). We are now considering the approach to welfare reform recommended in David Freud's report 'Reducing dependency, increasing opportunity: options for the future of welfare to work' published on 5 March 2007. The report recommended that we build on the success of new deal by building greater flexibility into employment services. We will respond in the summer, setting out our proposed next steps.

Pension Credit: Applications

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pension tracking application forms were submitted to the Pension Tracking Service in each month since the service has been offered; and how many pensions were successfully traced in each month.

James Purnell: The information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Total number of trace requests received by the Pension Tracing Service since April 2005 
			   2005 
			   April  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec 
			 Total trace requests 1,768 2,243 2,067 1,556 1,757 1,950 1,753 3,037 1,740 
			 Successful pension scheme traces 1,993 2,741 2,359 1,820 2,080 2,326 2,141 3,573 2,142 
		
	
	
		
			   2006 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep 
			 Total trace requests 2,212 2,258 3,256 2,894 2,307 3,373 4,101 3,469 3,560 
			 Successful pension scheme traces 2,631 2,710 3,942 3,386 2,651 3,103 3,660 3,101 3,181 
		
	
	
		
			   2006  2007 
			   Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar 
			 Total trace requests 3,727 3,718 2,096 4,210 4,982 4,868 
			 Successful pension scheme traces 3,338 3,300 1,899 3,766 4,204 4,571 
			  Notes: 1. The total requests is the number of customers who may have requested one or more traces. 2. Successful pension scheme traces may be higher than requests due to multiple pension traces requested in one application.  Source: Information generated from the Pension Tracing IT System

Pension Credit: Edmonton

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Edmonton constituency are in receipt of pension credit.

James Purnell: As at February 2007 4,340 households in Edmonton constituency were receiving pension credit.
	 Notes
	1. The figure provided is an early estimate. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure, which is taken from the GMS scan at 2 March 2007. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
	2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory and are therefore based on the 2005 parliamentary boundaries.
	4. Households are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
	 Source
	DWP 100 per cent. data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS) Pension Credit scan taken as at 2 March 2007

Pension Credit: Telephone Services

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls the pension credit telephone number 0800 99 1234 received in each month since the service was offered.

James Purnell: The information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of calls received by the pension credit application line (PCAL) in each month since April 2003 
			   Number of calls received by PCAL 
			  2003-04  
			 April 20,811 
			 May 32,752 
			 June 30,235 
			 July 118,223 
			 August 181,861 
			 September 427,896 
			 October 482,782 
			 November 318,278 
			 December 193,895 
			 January 495,558 
			 February 433,790 
			 March 430,072 
			 Year end total 3,196,153 
			   
			  2004-05  
			 April 380,917 
			 May 248,075 
			 June 310,269 
			 July 241,897 
			 August 151,539 
			 September 172,708 
			 October 122,951 
			 November 102,563 
			 December 76,248 
			 January 98,798 
			 February 411,124 
			 March 168,645 
			 Year end total 2,485,734 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 April 95,606 
			 May 64,110 
			 June 60,379 
			 July 94,246 
			 August 99,357 
			 September 102,879 
			 October 131,887 
			 November 207,303 
			 December 88,422 
			 January 139,213 
			 February 78,560 
			 March 153,422 
			 Year end total 1,315,384 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 April 89,884 
			 May 97,494 
			 June 60,479 
			 July 81,945 
			 August 62,413 
			 September 51,355 
			 October 63,119 
			 November 51,710 
			 December 35,663 
			 January 33,360 
			 February 31 ,946 
			 March 45,958 
			 Year end total 705,326 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 April 20,965 
			  Source: Genesys Reporting System, PCAL.

Pensions: Forecasts

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what total cost has been of providing the Pension Service Forecasting Helpdesk since its inception.

James Purnell: Information is not available at this level of detail. The Future Pensions Division within the Pension Service use a range of communication channels to provide help and advice to customers. The direct operational cost of providing this service for the period April 2005 to March 2007 was 33.94 million. During this period the Future Pensions Centre received approximately 2 million calls, issued around 19 million pension forecasts and conducted 71,000 pension traces.

Remploy: Closures

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received in support of the Remploy consortium of trade unions' proposed future business plan for Remploy.

Anne McGuire: Representations have been received, in support of the Remploy consortium trade unions' proposed future business plan, from members of the House and from the trade unions themselves.

Scheme Assets Review Team

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many representations the unclaimed scheme assets review team has received.

James Purnell: The Financial Assistance Scheme Review of Scheme Assets team would like to invite suggestions on the best use of scheme assets from interested parties, and also suggestions on how other non-public expenditure funding that has not already been allocated or earmarked could be used to increase assistance levels. The review Team has already met some key stakeholders but, pending a formal contact from the Team, suggestions can be sent to:
	adelphi.fas-review@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
	The Review will provide an initial view in the summer before consulting formally in the autumn.
	As at 18 May 2007, the team have received five representatives to this email address.